| All sorts of robot competitions, during which different | | | | All the suggested projects must satisfy the following |
| technical achievements are demonstrated, are held | | | | requirements: they must have movable parts; they |
| nowadays. But this year the Japanese are going to | | | | mustn't have any useful functions, that is to say, they |
| stage an original BacaRobo contest, in the course of | | | | must be absolutely impractical and they are positively |
| which the robots will compete in stupidity - or rather in | | | | obliged to provoke laughter by their actions. |
| ability to set off laughing. The word "baca" in the name | | | | Moreover, there is a small number of formal |
| of the contest is translated from Japanese as "silly", | | | | restrictions: the robots mustn't be more than 240 |
| "stupid"; and only baca won't guess what "robo" | | | | centimetres tall and have more than 100 kilograms in |
| means. The championship for the respective title | | | | weight. They are also prohibited from using explosive |
| among the robots will take place on November 4th of | | | | materials in their "ridiculous" activity and from emitting |
| this year. The organizers of the contest hope thereby | | | | sparks and splashing liquids as well. Each robot will be |
| to draw robot technicians' attention to the creation of | | | | given just 2 minutes in order to amuse the public and |
| entertaining, but not practical machines. | | | | the jury, which will comprehend some famous |
| However it is not so easy to take the title of "the | | | | Japanese painters, animators, industrialists and |
| silliest one" as it may seem to be. If you have what to | | | | professors, properly. Apparently these people will get a |
| boast, first you should submit an application till October | | | | quite good opportunity to prolong their life. Yoshimoto |
| 5th. Actually, the robot must be not so much silly as | | | | Kogyo, the most influential entertaining holding company |
| funny, and the organizing committee will select only | | | | in Japan, the organizer of the event, promises to give a |
| eight exemplars that are apt in this respect for the | | | | prize of 500 thousand yens (about 4, 4 thousand |
| participation in the performance. | | | | dollars) to the creator of the funniest robot. |