International Robo Sumo Wrestling Competition at the Exploratorium
Wednesday, March 20, 2002, 1:00PM
Registration at 12 noon

The Exploratorium expands its annual Robot Races, usually held in September, with a presentation of an International Robot Sumo Wrestling Competition on Wednesday, March 20. Registration for the event is at noon; the competition begins at 1:00 pm. Sponsored by FSIABC, Inc., a major software developer in Japan, 10 champion Japanese robots and their creators will compete against each other and against their American counterparts, including entrants from the Bay Area and Seattle, among others. This event is free with museum admission. It will also be webcast live at www.exploratorium.edu.

"The goal of this tournament is to provide an opportunity to stimulate the public’s scientific interest, improve their basic technical skills and allow them to exhibit their creativity through the development and design of hobby robots," according to FSIABC.

The robots are of the sleek minimalist non-anthropomorphic variety and are devisable into regular and lightweight categories. Each of the robots demonstrate an ability to sense and to make "decisions" based on data taken in about the Robot Sumo Wrestling Ring. Robots "perceive" in a variety of ways. The Ring consists of a more complex collection of challenges. It requires greater robotic intelligence since negotiating it presents more decisions for any competing robot. "Robot Sumo Wrestling" takes place in a 1 meter in diameter ring. The object of sumo wrestling is to force or trick your opponent out of the circle. "Regular" contestants weigh six pounds and up. Sumo wrestling "Light" features robots at one pound.

To contact FSAIBC by email, go to robot@chibashoten.com or visit their website at www.chibashoten.com/robot.

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The Exploratorium is located inside the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco's Marina District. Museum admission is as follows: Members FREE; Adults (18-64) $10.00; University Students (with ID) $7.50; Senior citizens (65+) $7.50; People with disabilities $6.00; Youth (5-17) $6.00; Children Under 4 FREE. First Wednesdays of the month FREE. The Exploratorium's winter hours, from Labor Day through Memorial Day, are TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY 10amÐ5pm (WEDNESDAYS UNTIL 9:00pm), CLOSED MONDAYS, except for most holidays. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Exploratorium is open SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, from 10am-6pm (Wednesdays until 9pm). The Exploratorium is wheelchair accessible. For information, call(415) EXP-LORE.

CONTACT: LINDA DACKMAN (415) 561-0363 / Leslie Patterson (415) 561-0377