EDMONTON — A team of researchers at the University of Alberta is developing technology they say could have robots beating humans at the game in the next 50 years.

Hong Zhang, head of the research team, says the artificially intelligent machines likely won't be good enough to compete for the sport's holy grail, but they should be able get the better of any recreational player.

"I think it is definitely possible to have a team by 2050," Zhang said in a telephone interview from Beijing. "Robots are never going to be as smart as people, but physically, they can be stronger and faster."

Right now, the U of A prototypes are only 15 centimetres tall and resemble paint cans on wheels. They competed earlier this week in RoboCup 2002, a 20-team international soccer-robot tournament held this year in Japan.

The games are played on a rectangular surface a little larger than a pool table, with five robots per side. Using an overhead camera to relay the co-ordinates of each "player," a computer program controls their movements.

The machines are part of an international initiative looking at how robots can co-operate with one another to achieve a common goal.

"We really don't understand how the game should be played by robots yet," Zhang said.

"If you look at how humans play soccer, you have individual athletes that are pretty good, you have a team strategy and they follow that strategy. But if you have to break that down into little parts and write computer programs, that's a very challenging task."

Seven computer science and electrical engineering students work with Zhang on the project.

"It's incredible how collaborative (the research) is," said Chris Parker, a master's student and member of the team.

"There are very few people on the team who can say that they know how every component of the system works."

While the whole concept seems like fun, Zhang said the technology also has practical applications.

"People are really interested in studying how robots work together. If you look at robots now, they all are individuals," he said.

"The bigger picture behind robot soccer is what they call multi-robot systems."

For instance, Zhang said, NASA is interested in the research because robots could be used to explore Mars. An entire mission could be scuttled by the breakdown of one large unmanned craft, whereas a team of smaller robots could still function even if one member were to break down.

The Alberta team finished with two wins and two losses at this year's RoboCup.

It was a better result than last year's tournament in Seattle when they were plagued by radio problems.

"It was quite a step forward," Zhang said. "Last year we were only able to score a goal."

Parker said RoboCup always seems to generate a lot of interest among the public.

"There's quite a large involvement," he said. "There's a lot of excitement from the public watching the games in the final rounds."

While the U of A team failed to make the playoffs this year, Zhang said the results are secondary.

"Winning is nice," he said. "But getting research done is much more interesting."