Advances in artificial intelligence for football and robot marathons

A referee watches a pitchside monitor before making a decision during a football match in Cangzhou, northern China’s Hebei Province. Photo: IC

A new record was set in the Chinese Football Association Cup final on Saturday, when semi-automatic offside detection technology was introduced to the Chinese football field.

“The artificial intelligence system, which has installed 10 ultra-high-speed cameras in the stadium to monitor and capture 29 different key points on each player’s body, automatically collects and processes positioning data of both the ball and the players to aid decision-making.” A researcher who wished to remain anonymous told the Global Times:

“The system automatically draws a virtual offside line; it determines the position and timing of the pass based on the haptic feedback from the chip inside the ball. When the artificial intelligence detects an offside situation, the system automatically warns the referee,” he said. .

The application of smart technologies in the modern world of sports is quietly reshaping traditional sports environments.

intelligent evolution

For the researcher, football is almost the best real-world research scenario in which AI’s ability to “break down” tasks and “collaborate” in different roles can be applied.

“Artificial intelligence can improve the performance of football match analysis and evaluation models,” he said.

He explains that if we imagine the football field as a large area full of information points, even a world-class coach can only comprehend 20 percent of the total information on the field. Therefore, AI needs to delve into this complex area, help gain important insights and help coaches, players and spectators understand the game in a more complex way.

Off the field, the researcher in game theory-based intelligent decision-making for football says a parallel universe-like model of player behavior can be created by drawing on vast amounts of player and match data. This allows fleeting moments of a football match to be rehearsed, replayed and even predicted.

“Using a combination of virtual and real-world simulations, as well as parallel projections, to train for football can effectively support pre-match training plans, real-time tactical adjustments during the game, and post-match reviews or booster training. Of course, beyond this approach in football, many other sports “It is possible to apply it to the field as well,” he said.

In the past, every decision a referee made could spark outrage or celebration among the spectators; but now smart technology can effectively reduce emotional dependence on such decisions. People will have more opportunities to focus on the game itself, whether it is the team’s tactics or the individual performances of the athletes.

Nowadays, more and more youth football tournaments are starting to use smart football analysis systems. This change is not only a technological advance but also a development in educational philosophy.

“At the youth level, many players may not realize their own potential and shortcomings. Intelligent analysis data acts like a mirror, allowing them to see the true version of themselves,” said Hu Minghao, coach of a youth football club in Beijing. he said. Global Times.

An ongoing trend

Today, the application of smart technology is not limited to football; It has also become common in the sports industry. In a striking demonstration of technology meeting endurance, a humanoid robot joined more than 9,000 runners at the Beijing E-Town Half Marathon in November. The robot, named Tien Kung, crossed the finish line, serving as a “closing pacer” symbolizing a bold step in integrating smart robotics technology into sports.

It turns out that marathons are more than a challenge to human endurance; They become fertile ground for the testing and development of humanoid robots. “The marathon serves as an important project to test humanoid running postures and human-machine interaction,” said Zhang Qiang, chair of the Academic Committee of the National and Local Co-created Embodied Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center and collaborative designer of Tien Kung. .

This marathon appearance also explored the robot’s speed limits in extreme scenarios. The vehicle, which is the leader in its category with an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour and a maximum running speed of 12 kilometers per hour, can move smoothly on different terrains such as slopes, stairs, grass, gravel and sand.

Humanoid robot Tien Kung Photo: Courtesy of Zhang Qiang

At the beginning of the race, Tien Kung stood on the sidelines, waving his arms and cheering on the participants. Later, as a large group of runners approached the finish line, Tien Kung joined the race approximately 100 meters from the finish line, acting as a “closing pacer” to help the athletes finish the race together.

Combining robotics with marathons is more than just technological experiments. “This is a way to promote healthy living while showcasing the intersection of technology and humanity,” Zhang said. The event highlights the potential of robots to meaningfully engage with the public not only as tools but also as companions that encourage curiosity and connection.

“Marathons provide a unique opportunity for humanoid robots to interact with humans,” Zhang said, adding that this public participation is key to demystifying robotics and encouraging acceptance. Quoting Steve Jobs, Zhang said: “The best technology products lie at the intersection of technology and humanities. This principle is very important for humanoid robots.”

The roadmap extends beyond sports. Developers of Tien Kung aim to improve balance and interaction abilities to carry out activities such as badminton, tennis and football. The ultimate goal is a human-centered approach that enables robots to assist in various aspects of daily life.

Tien Kung’s developers launched an open source initiative on November 11 to accelerate innovation. This global call aims to overcome geographical barriers by bringing together the world’s brightest minds in the field of robotics to collaboratively advance this field.

“The open source approach at that time recognizes each nation’s unique advantages in artificial intelligence,” Zhang explained. “Every country has exceptional talent, and we hope to bring together the best minds through this initiative. By overcoming geographical barriers, we can work collectively to realize a common dream.”