FrodoBots, a company specializing in robotics gaming, has partnered with Yield Guild Games (YGG) to introduce the Earth Rover Challenge. This event aims to merge the fields of AI and robotics with gaming by having both AI teams and human gamers remotely control small-sized sidewalk robots. The competition, which will take place during the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2024, features participants from renowned research institutions such as UC Berkeley, UT Austin, and Carnegie Mellon University. The event is designed to generate valuable real-world data for AI research while providing an engaging experience for human participants.
The Earth Rover Challenge represents a significant milestone in the evolution of embodied AI research. By leveraging the gaming community, FrodoBots and YGG aim to crowdsource data that can be used to improve AI models for real-world navigation tasks. The competition will take place across multiple cities, including Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Stockholm, allowing for diverse environmental data collection. This initiative not only advances AI research but also showcases the potential of integrating gaming with robotics to solve complex technological challenges.
Image Credit: Frodobots, YGG Team