Dear RoboCup MSL Teams,
We hope this email finds you well. The 13th RoboCup MSL Workshop, organized by the University of Toulon, occurred on January 24 and 25. During the workshop, several important topics were discussed, including the teams' progress, the league's evolution, advancements toward the 2050 objective, and the upcoming RoboCup 2025 in Brazil.
One of the key points of discussion was the high costs associated with participating in RoboCup 2025 in Brazil. It was unanimously acknowledged that the estimated costs, including travel with robots, accommodation, and participation fees, would exceed €50,000 per team. This poses a significant challenge, particularly for teams with limited budgets.
In light of this, organizing an alternative MSL event in Europe was proposed. Such an event could be more affordable for both European and Asian teams while still providing a competitive and collaborative platform for all participants.
This email aims to inform you of the discussions held during the workshop and to gather your feedback on this matter. Your input is important as we consider the best way forward for the MSL community.
We will explore alternatives to the Brazil event and send a follow-up email once we have received feedback from all MSL teams. This situation does not eliminate the need for a qualification process (LINK)https://msl.robocup.org/uncategorized/2025-call-for-participation (deadline: February 28), as this will most likely be used in the event, regardless of the location or organization team. Additionally, if the European event does not occur, the qualification remains necessary for teams wishing to compete in Brazil.
Please reply to this email with your thoughts and opinions by February 9. To facilitate your response, please find below the key questions to address:
- Is your team currently considering a trip to Brazil? - Does your team have the necessary budget for the trip to Brazil? - How likely is your team to participate in a European event?
Thank you for your attention and cooperation. We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards, Executive Committee of RoboCup Middle Size League