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A Brain-Based Device for Playing SoccerThe GameDARPA is extremely interested in The Neurosciences Institute’s Brain-Based Device (BBD) program and has given the Institute a grant to assist in its development. Part of the grant includes a special scientific version of Dean Kamen's two-wheeled Segway Human Transporter with its innovative balancing technology. The Segway Robotic Mobility Platform is a highly mobile and rugged platform that will allow the team to take a NOMAD device outdoors for the first time. One of the goals is to participate in a DARPA-sponsored robotic soccer league with teams from around the world. The Neurosciences Institute and Carnegie Mellon University have both put together teams. We are hoping that Segway Soccer will be an official RoboCup league by 2006. Here is a draft of the Segway league rules. The DeviceWe recently created a Brain-Based Device using the Segway platform specifically designed to play soccer. The image to the right shows our device; a CCD camera is used to recognize objects on the field (e.g. balls, teammates, goals, etc), infrared sensors and a laser range finder are used to detect the ball and other obstacles, and solenoids are used to capture and kick the ball. The device’s behavior is guided by a neural simulation that receives input from the various sensors and generates motor signals to the Segway’s wheels. The neural simulation has visual areas based on color and shape processing in the visual cortex, motor areas and a value system that responds to salient objects.
To view a video explaining the soccer league and device click here. Team BrainWorks at the 2005 US Open RoboCup ChampionshipsOur team was undefeated in a series of exhibition games against Carnegie Mellon University at the recent US Open RoboCup in Atlanta. Below are a few video clips from the event.
Team BrainWorks at the 2004 US Open RoboCup ChampionshipsLast year, we demonstrated our soccer playing BBD at the US Open RoboCup championships in New Orleans. Below are a few video clips from the event with a narration.
More VideoThe following video clips below demonstrate our Segway Brain-Based Device’s soccer playing capabilities.
Team BrainWorks Team BrainWorks: From left to right, Doug Moore, Jeff Krichmar, Jason Fleischer, Botond Szatmary, Jim Snook, Tom Gal, Donald Hutson. Contact Jeff Krichmar for more information. |
| More Information: |
| Brain-Based Devices main page |
| Darwin X/XI A model of episodic, spatial, and multimodal memory formation |
| Segway Cerebellum A model of predictive learning |
| Darwin VII A BBD performing a classical conditioning task |