Human-shaped robots make debut in soccer’s classic

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo won’t have to worry about his job just yet.

Not until 2050 do organizers of RoboCup a World Cup for robots that kicked off Wednesday in Tokyo with 193 teams from 30 countries hope to field a squad of humanoids capable of defeating the human soccer champions.

Piggybacking on World Cup hoopla in its sixth year, the tourney gives robotics researchers a serious opportunity for sharing ideas. This year, a dozen teetering human-shaped robots are taking part for the first time.

To play soccer, robots, like the one above, must first figure out where they are, scan the scene with digital cameras and calculate their moves. The robots are not remotely controlled. They must be programmed to think for themselves.

Receivers let you take digital radios on the open road

Satellite radio, sometimes called digital radio, will let you drive cross-country without having to change the radio station.

Now that major services like XM Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio are on the air, you may want to start shopping for a satellite receiver for your car.

Starting about $200, the radios pick up about 500 channels, display song titles and performers, and some have accessories like built-in CD players or cassette decks.

New products help thwart would-be laptop thieves

Safeguard your laptop from thieves, whether you’re traveling or just plain paranoid. New laptop-security products include the Caveo Anti-Theft PC Card, which has a built-in motion sensor that sounds off with a verbal warning followed by a high-pitched alarm once the motion is determined to be a threat.

If the computer is carried beyond a perimeter specified by the user, the device reboots to a password-protected screen.

The card also has its own battery, so the system will work even if the laptop is dead.