Call for Applications for Participation 2014

Call for Applications for Participation

RoboCup 2014 Standard Platform League

www.tzi.de/spl

Saturday 19th through Friday 25th July 2014 (João Pessoa, Brazil)

www.robocup2014.org

RoboCup is an international initiative that fosters research and education in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence through a variety of competitions (RoboCupSoccer, RoboCupRescue, RoboCup@Home, RoboCupJunior) involving mostly multi-robot systems. RoboCup currently includes a number of different robot soccer leagues that focus on different research challenges.

The Standard Platform League (SPL) is characterized by the use of an identical robot platform by all the teams. Participating researchers focus on algorithmic development for fully autonomous robots, i.e., robots that operate with no external control. The SPL at RoboCup 2014 will use any H21 or H25 version of the NAO humanoid robot manufactured by Aldebaran Robotics. The SPL robot soccer games at RoboCup 2014 will be played between teams of five robots on a 6m x 9m field.

The RoboCup 2014 SPL will host three main competitions: a team competition (similar to the SPL competition in previous years), a drop-in player competition, and 2-3 technical challenges. The RoboCup 2014 SPL will be able to host 20 teams which will compete in all three competitions, as well as at least 4 teams that will compete in just the drop-in player competition and the technical challenges. All teams will be selected from the interested parties responding to this call.

The full rules of RoboCup 2014 SPL and a document detailing the possible technical challenges are posted on the SPL website. Teams who apply to participate in RoboCup 2014 SPL should vote for desired technical challenges by responding to the online poll by December 8th, 2013.

Qualification

All interested teams need to submit an up-to five pages original qualification document that includes:

  1. the team name
  2. a statement of commitment to participate in the RoboCup 2014 SPL
  3. the leader(s), the constitution, and the affiliation(s) of the team.
  4. number of each type of NAO used by the team (eg, intend to buy 6 H25 NAO v4s or currently have 5 H21 V3.3, etc)
  5. preference and willingness to compete in all 3 SPL competitions or just the drop-in player competition and the technical challenges
  6. a statement of the team’s related research interests and planned activities
  7. a summary of past relevant work and scientific publications

The written material must be complemented by a link to a video (maximum 5 min long, uploaded on the team’s web site or on some video server) that demonstrates the current status of the robotics research of the team. Videos of simulation contributions will also be accepted, only in case real robots are unavailable. If the candidates already have NAOs, the video should show the current state of their robot soccer performance. Preference will be given to teams that use real robots in their video.

Pre-Qualification

Teams that reached the quarter-finals at RoboCup 2013 will be pre-qualified for RoboCup 2014, if they submit the following original qualification document that includes:

  1. the team name
  2. a statement of commitment to participate in the RoboCup 2014 SPL
  3. the leader(s), the constitution, and the affiliation(s) of the team
  4. number of each type of NAO used by the team (eg, intend to buy 6 H25 NAO v4s or currently have 5 H21 V3.3, etc)
  5. preference and willingness to compete in all 3 SPL competitions or just the drop-in player competition and the technical challenges
  6. a team research report describing their work for RoboCup 2013

If a joint 2013 team splits, only one team can be pre-qualified for 2014 (please, indicate which one).

Submission and Evaluation

All applications with the (pre-)qualification material must be submitted by November 27, 2013, by email to rc–spl–tc@lists.robocup.org. Applications must not be sent to personal SPL TC/OC email addresses and must not contain video attachments.

Teams are encouraged to consider joint participation. Joint proposals will be judged on combined merit.

Qualification decisions will be announced by December 12th, 2013 (delayed – decisions will be announced soon).

Robot Acquisition

Aldebaran Robotics has a special pricing package for teams who qualify for the RoboCup 2014 SPL Competition. A list of qualified teams will be sent to Aldebaran by the SPL Technical Committee by December 15th, 2013, so teams may contact Aldebaran after that date to order robots if they choose.

Main Qualified Teams

Aldebaran agrees to deliver up to 6 RoboCup NAO (either new robots or replacement robots) per SPL Main Qualified Team at the negotiated price detailed below. Above this limit of 6 robots, any additional robots can be purchased at the regular list price applicable at the time of purchase.

Drop-In + Technical Challenge Qualified Teams

Aldebaran agrees to deliver up to 2 RoboCup NAO (either new robots or replacement robots) per SPL Drop-In + Technical Challenge Qualified Team at the negotiated price detailed below. Above this limit of 2 robots, any additional robots can be purchased at the regular list price applicable at the time of purchase.

NAO Version

The Parties agree to continue delivering the H25 version of NAO. Version delivered will be the version delivered at that time by Aldebaran Robotics.

Price (excluding VAT)

  • Price of Robots within the Limit Number: 3.200€
  • Price of Robots above Limit Number: List Price
  • Charger: 190€
  • Battery: 190€
  • Full Robot replacement within the Limit Number: 2.750€
  • Full Robot replacement above Limit Number: List Price
  • 1 Year Warranty Extension for NAO V3.3: 1.200€
  • 1 Year Warranty Extension for NAO V4: 600€

Note: NAO includes charger and battery. ‘Limit number’ is 6 robots or replacements for the SPL Main Qualified and 2 for the SPL Drop-In.

RoboCup 2014 Standard Platform League Technical and Organizing Committees