Not that i was specifically looking for more football news (and this really isn’t that related), but here goes.

Scientists at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, have developed the worlds most sophisticated robot, at least most sophisticated when it comes to walking like a human. If you’re anything like me, you’re not overly impressed with the awkward way those “dancing robots” from Japan are moving around (and waving fans), i mean it’s cool and all, but far away from being the robotic overlords we’ve all been waiting for. But leave it to Holland to bring us one step closer. Check out this video of Flame, their new robot.

Making a robot walk like a human is no easy task, as it is really a series of controlled falls, but i think you’ll agree that this robot is getting pretty close. I also like their flair! Pointless flashing LED’s in front and a skull in the shape of a blue flame. Kudos Holland.

Now i promised that this was somehow related to football as well, and indeed it is. The creators of the robot intend on competing in the 2008 RoboCup, an annual competition that pits robot teams against each other in a game of football. To read more about the robot itself and the research being done on it, check out the press-release.