For the first time, the Philippines will participate in an international soccer robot contest to be held in Australia this September. Behind it is a team of robotics and artificial intelligence experts from De La Salle University and University of the Philippines who collaborated in creating 7-cubic cm miniature robots and making the country's maiden appearance in the World Cup possible.
Dr. Elmer Dadios, a Manufacturing Engineering and Management faculty member of De La Salle University, is team leader of the group composed of DLSU Computer Studies Software Technology faculty member Dr. Florante Salvador, UP's Computer Studies faculty member Dr. Prospero Naval, and Electrical Electronics Engineering faculty member Mike Pedraza.
As a prelude to the World Cup, the Philippine team competed in the Asia Pacific Championship held May 23-25 in Singapore. The Federation of International Robot-soccer Association (FIRA), of which the Philippines is a member, is sponsoring both international events.
"We are all very excited. Morale is high and the enthusiasm is still intact," Dadios said after relating that they experienced a few setbacks in the procurement of computers. Currently, Dadios is busy fine-tuning the offense and defense strategies that will be inputted into the robot's memory. He has also involved his graduate and undergraduate students in the undertaking by exposing them to the concepts of artificial intelligence.