Stupid robots take to the stage

Ever worry that robots are getting a little too smart? If science fiction has taught us anything, it's that it won't be long until the machines take over. Thankfully, some people are dedicated to keeping our metal friends dumb.

Bacarobo, the Stupid Robot Championship, is a showcase for just such robots. The event takes place on 30 October in Budapest, Hungary, and has three main rules: the robots must operate automatically, they must be useless and they must be funny.

The contest originated in Japan - "baka" means "stupid" in Japanese - running in 2007 and 2008 before moving to Hungary in 2010. Entries last year included the Binbot, which attempts to follow a model fly where ever it goes, a hula-hooping bot powered by an electric drill, and a pair of shivering robots that live in a fridge.

While Bacarobo may not be as high-tech as other robotics contests such as the Robocup, which aims to develop robot football players good enough to defeat a human team by 2050, the organisers do hope the event will raise the profile of robotics in Budapest and Europe.

The designer of the winning robot will also receive a €2000 prize.

http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/08/stupid-robots-take-to-the-stag.html