NOVA Short | Soccer-Playing Robots

What this episode covers

They shuffle around, find the ball, plan their next move, and, of course, kick—all on their own. Designed by Manuela Veloso, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute and her team, these soccer-playing robots stand at the forefront of machines that can learn about the world and act appropriately. They can sense their surroundings and respond to changing conditions, like the arrival of another player in the vicinity. The long-term goal of Veloso's and other AI labs? To win the World Cup against humans by 2050. But they've got a few bugs to work out of their 'bots—like keeping them upright. For more, watch "The Smartest Machine on Earth" on pbs.org/nova. Original footage produced for NOVA by Michael Bicks. Video (all) © WGBH Educational Foundation

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