1996 in robotics

The year 1996 was significant for several advancements in robotics, reflecting growing interests in automation, artificial intelligence, and robotic technologies. Some notable developments from that year include: 1. **RoboCup Initiative**: The RoboCup initiative was introduced in 1996, aiming to promote the research in robotics and artificial intelligence through soccer games between autonomous robots. The goal was to develop a fully autonomous robot that could compete with human soccer players by the middle of the 21st century.