Musing About Robotic Football

Explore the intriguing intersection of robotics, mathematics, and sports in this thought-provoking lecture by Shmuel Weinberger. Delve into the complex challenges a robot would face in navigating through blockers to reach an end zone or score a goal. Examine key concepts such as modeling, non-fibrations, speed, information processing, and sensing, while considering the implications of objects larger than points. Investigate the mathematical foundations related to a paper co-authored with D. Cohen and M. Farber, covering topics like real polynomials, topological complexity, and the cost of flexibility. Gain insights into topological football, non-vibrations, moving blockers, and the vibration hypothesis. Discuss the differences between hard balls and softballs, and explore connections to DNA. While not providing definitive solutions, this lecture offers a stimulating exploration of the complex interplay between mathematics and robotic sports performance.