3. Fukuoka, Japan (spring 2002)

So, the idea was that: to design from scratch two different humanoid robots (about 40 cm and 60 cm of height), build them and make them perform something related to football in less than 4 months.
Of course, without any previous knowledge about robotics.
And then... we would all fly to Fukuoka, Japan, to participate to Robocup in the newly launched "humanoid league".

Completely crazy!!

I was supposed to write the software to make walk the robots.I must confess that I realized later that my effort to accomplish this task was poor (anyway, the hardware platform have never been really able to walk).
Our teacher, Peter Nordin, told us that he was looking for some sponsor to pay our trip to Japan, but he was having little luck.

What happened was quite expected: people worked very hard until the very last day, but the small humanoids were not able to move.
The unexpected thing is that we ACTUALLY went to Japan, even if the robot was still unfinished. No one knows where the money came from; the most believed hypothesis is that the professor paid with his own money the journey to 20 students...

Who would do such a thing? I believe very few people. Consider, as well, that this was the ONLY year in which the students of the Complex Adaptive System (my Master) tried to participate to Robocup.

The probability that something like that might happens are very low, but this event was determinant for my story and my life.

The took the flight for Japan at the end of June. It was as well the end of my academic year in Sweden and I remember the precise moment in which I realized that a chapter of my life (the best one so far) was closing and a new one was going to start soon.
Wondering about my future, I was smiling by myself, with a feeling of truly happiness...

This is Elvis, one of the two unlucky robots.

Comments

[Pooya]

hello Davide,

currently I study in the field of computer sciences at Chalmers university and I registered for the complex adaptive systems and humanoid robotics for the next semester. I'm really happy that I find your web log, please tell us more about yourself, robotic field, thinking techniques, useful books, and anything else just continue writing, please

[Innis Snelling]

Hello Daivde,
I am 17 years old and im currently waiting my exam results and i was hoping to study a degree in Electronic Engineering but i am unsure about studying robotics etc... Should i stick to Electrical Engineering or Study more Robtics stuff? And finally will a degree in Robotics get me a job in the end?

From Innis Snelling, Scotland

[Lincoln Vaz]

hello davide,

im very impressed with your team, your work and your blog.

im currently studying for a bachelor of engineering (mechatronics) at the university of queensland brisbane, australia. i am considering taking up computer science (bsc, double degree) as well. do you recommend this? or is it generalising too much?
and what are your tips for me on deciding to narrow down which aspect of robotics/automated systems to pursue for specialisation/further research and study.

also anything related to your influences, books, work philosophy, tips on time-management etc will be much appreciated.

thank you

[Harsha]

Hi Davide

I share some things with you....always dreamed of creating life...I know sounds funny. I did my bachelors in India and am a EU Masters Program where I did my first year studies at Polito.....and now doing my master thesis at EPFL in computer vision.....Thanks for your inspiration....I will some day live my dream!

Regards,
Harsha

[joHN lELELSON]

Davide YOUR A FUCKING ASS WHOLE PRICK!!!!!!!

[Tom Jones]

Hello Davide, Please suck my lovely COCK you ass