Nissan Leaf tech-based robot draws soccer pitch

Nissan has unveiled an autonomous robot which can draw soccer fields within 20 minutes.

Named Pitch-R, the robot inspired by the Nissan Leaf’s ProPilot driver assistance technology was shown at the 2018 UEFA Champion’s League final in Kiev.

It features a four-camera vision system, GPS location tracking and collision avoidance systems and can draw white lines on grass, tarmac or gravel with eco-friendly dissolvable paint.

Pitch-R is powered by a rechargeable battery pack. It analyses its surroundings in real time and quickly scans to find a suitable space. Uneven surfaces don’t bother Pitch-R, and it can navigate around obstacles, creating fields for five-a-side, seven-a-side or 11-a-side teams in less than 20 minutes.

The result is a professional-standard soccer field that would pass a UEFA inspection if Liverpool FC and Real Madrid CF were to turn up. But it’s also ideal for amateurs looking to show off their skills on the weekend or after work, Nissan says.

Nissan created Pitch-R to excite and engage with grassroots fans. It’s the first in a series of advanced prototypes being developed using Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies. Further developments are planned during next season’s UEFA Champions League competition.

“The UEFA Champions League features the best footballers in the world,” Nissan marketing and brand strategy corporate vice-president Roel De Vries says.

“But all those star players started out like every kid – using jumpers for goalposts and chalk to mark lines wherever they could find open space to play the game they love.”

Nissan Europe marketing vice-president Jean-Pierre Diernaz says that’s the passion which drove the design and engineering team to create Pitch-R.

“It injects the best of Nissan technology into an innovation which can benefit grassroots football and excite and engage young fans.”