Artificial Intelligence: Robots compete in 2018 RoboCup China Open

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The 2018 RoboCup China Open has been held in the city of Shaoxing in China's eastern Zhejiang Province. More than 2,500 robotics enthusiasts from across the country gathered to face off in the artificial intelligence match. OMAR KHAN has more.

It might look like toddlers learning how to walk.

But even professional footballers had to start somewhere.

Unlike the FIFA World Cup, which demands excellent skills by its players, the robot soccer match is rather a competition of intelligence.

WANG JINGCHUAN, SECRETARY GENERAL ROBOT COMPETITION COMMITTEE CHINA ASSOCIATION OF AUTOMATION "To build such a robot able to move and feel requires the installation of many sensors to enable them to tell which direction the football comes in, where the goal is located, its position on the field, as well as to recognize its own team and the rival team."

Apart from the five-on-five robot soccer game, rescue robots, also stole the show.

WAN ZHEXIONG, CONTESTANT NORTHWESTERN POLYTECHNICAL UNIVERSITY "It allows us to explore an unknown area. Our robot is equipped with a laser radar which can draw up a map of the site. And here is a camera. We have also equipped the vehicle with a thermal imager which can detect signs of life."

A total of 555 teams competed in this year's championships.

And it's never too early to join in.

Robotics enthusiasts as young as kindergarten were also on the players' list.

WANG JINGCHUAN, SECRETARY GENERAL ROBOT COMPETITION COMMITTEE CHINA ASSOCIATION OF AUTOMATION "We want our children to see and learn about robots at a younger age so that they can understand the makeup of robots, and learn about the future of robots, and how they work to solve problems."

Founded in 1996, RoboCup is an international research and education initiative that looks at artificial intelligence and its utility for future applications.

The RoboCup China Open, in its 20th edition this year, is one of the most important contests of its kind.

Winners of the contest will be representing China in this year's RoboCup International Competition.