Robot invasion sparks hi-tech battle

IT’S not every day you get to meet a robot — unless you’re a time traveller like Dr Who.

But now is your chance: eight life-sized robots — including a real “live” Dalek — are invading the National College of Ireland (NCI) in Dublin’s financial district this weekend.

Don’t be alarmed to see the world’s first full-sized rope-climbing robot scale the exterior walls of the 50ft NCI building on Mayor Square. Skelly has climbed higher than 70,000 feet in her lifetime.

The robotic visitors are here for the inaugural RoboCup Ireland 2006 Challenge — a contest in which 23 teams of transition-year students designed, developed, built and programmed a fully functional robot.

Students took part in three challenges — to build robots capable of doing sports, dancing or rescuing victims.

Dublin’s Belvedere College scooped the sports section with their soccer robot. Another Dublin team, St Aidan’s CBS in Collins Avenue, were best at rescue, while Our Lady’s College, Greenhills, Co Louth won the dance category.

Niamh Pentony, on behalf of her Drogheda college team, said: “It was an absolutely amazing competition. We are delighted — and shocked — to have won.”

The three successful teams head off to Germany next month, as Irish robotic champions, for the international competition final.

In the meantime there is a weekend’s fun and knowledge for the public at the IFSC-based college.

Eoin Geraghty from the NCI said: “It’s not every day that people can get to meet a real ‘live’ robot and we encourage people to come and visit the college over the weekend. It is especially a good opportunity for children to learn all about the robots and find out how robotics applies to everyday life.”

Open Days (11am-4pm) today and tomorrow offer a host of events — from workshops on robotics, to a robot wars demonstration to a chat with robotic expert Ashley Green.

Dr Green, who developed robotics for the European Space Agency Aurora mission to Mars, was competition judge.

He said: “RoboCup allows students from across the world to pool information and become involved in science.

“They gain practical experience of the world of science in a fun and interesting way. It is a great thing Ireland is fielding a team for the international final for the first time this year.”