- RoboCup-nao - lists.robocup.org

Dutch Nao Team Code Release
by Gijs de Jong 12 Dec '25

12 Dec '25

Dear SPL Teams, We are happy to announce the Dutch Nao Team 2025 code release. Our full software repository is now open source, and the exact version used at RoboCup 2025 has been tagged as robocup-2025. Apologies for the delayed release. This was an oversight on our side while transitioning our development focus to the Booster platform. The repository includes our complete SPL stack, covering perception, localization, behavior, motion, visualization, tooling and simulation support. You can find the release here: https://github.com/IntelligentRoboticsLab/yggdrasil/releases/tag/robocup-20… Best regards, Dutch Nao Team *PS:* We would like to thank everyone in the league for the many great interactions and the wonderful time we had in the SPL as the Dutch Nao Team. Going forward, our team will continue under a new name: whIRLwind Amsterdam. Updates on our work and future activities can be found on our new website: https://whirlwind.team/

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Newsletter #2 - Humanoid Soccer League
by Caron, Benjamin 05 Dec '25

05 Dec '25

New Division Structure for the Humanoid Soccer League (HSL) The Technical Committee is pleased to announce the latest developments for the new humanoid soccer league. This newsletter provides clarifications on the current state of decisions regarding the divisions, ball specifications, and jersey requirements for the RoboCup 2026. Town Hall All teams are invited to a Town Hall meeting. The Town Hall will be held on December 15th at 11:00 UTC online in Zoom: https://hu-berlin.zoom-x.de/j/68018766319?pwd=bbgiDWtbSCcRv9ZWdyUSapBaFZeza… The agenda for the meeting will be: * Mission and Vision of the HSL * HSL design requirements and parameters * Rule set review: * Legal Robot parameters, constructed & standard platforms * Divisions and Foundation/Advanced tiers * Team sizes * Brief Game Rules review * Future coming directions and league requirements, 2027-2028 * Q&A Session, including pre-provided questions/comments During the Q&A session, priority will be given to questions submitted in advance. Please use this form: https://forms.gle/2QNeWgvg8ciKBAzw9 Three Competitive Divisions for 2026 The division structure is the central component of the new league. Thus, the decision regarding the competition divisions was a lengthy process that involved many individuals from TCs to EXECS and Trustees. We took into account many opinions, including all the discussions held on Discord, and carefully considered all relevant factors. Consequently, this division is final for the 2026 season, and no further changes will be made. Division Max Weight Max Height Players Ball Size Small 15 kg 110 cm 4-7 SPL / FIFA Mini Middle 25 kg 125 cm 3-5 FIFA 3 or 4 Large 80 kg 190 cm 3-5 FIFA 5 Division Overview * Small Division Entry tier of the HSL, welcoming both NAO and kid-size research robots. Designed for accessibility while supporting innovation and providing a smooth transition from the former SPL. In this division, the maximum weight and height of the robots have an upper limit, meaning that robots that are heavier or higher than the limit are not allowed. The details of how the FIFA Miniball and the smaller, softer SPL ball will be used are still being debated. * Middle Division Intermediate tier between small and full-size platforms, enabling stronger actuators, larger sensor payloads, and more advanced locomotion research, while still allowing for easy handling and large team sizes. Both size 3 and size 4 balls will be used, depending on availability. * Large Division Aligned with adult human-scale proportions (up to 190 cm / 80 kg), this division brings robots closer to real-world adult soccer challenges. Smaller robots (i.e., those meeting the weight and height specifications of a lower division) are permitted to compete in larger divisions. We anticipate and hope for a diverse competitive landscape featuring teams fielding a variety of robot types, including both commercial platforms and custom research robots of different sizes. However, for a team utilizing multiple types of robots, the entire team is restricted by the physical specifications (maximum height or maximum weight) of the largest robot on the field. It is important to note that teams should expect further increases in the small division limits over the next years, leading up to the consolidation in two categories only: one that would allow robots to play with children of up to 10 years; and another with robots that could compete with teen and adult human players. Field Dimensions The field sizes for the proposed divisions are described in the following table: Division Width x Length (meters) Small 6 × 9 Middle 6 x 9 up to 9 x 14 Large 9 x 14 up to 14 X 22 The size of the small division field is equal to that of the Humanoid League KidSize and the SPL fields, and the largest dimension in the middle division equals the Humanoid AdultSize field. These dimensions maintain continuity with historical league formats while accommodating the new divisional structure. The middle and large fields are specified as a range, and they reflect the variability permitted in real-world FIFA field specifications. Team Configurations Teams in each division can choose to play in two team configurations: Foundation - with a smaller number of players; and Advanced - with a larger number of players. If in a game one of the teams chooses to play in a Foundation configuration, then both teams must play in this configuration to ensure fairness. The maximum number of players in a game for each configuration is shown in the table below: Division Foundation Advanced Small 4 players 7 players Middle 3 players 5 players Large 3 players 5 players Those numbers denote the maximum number of players in a team. A team can always compete with fewer robots than the maximum configuration allowance. In the Middle division, starting from the quarter-finals onwards, all matches will be played in the Advanced configuration. Whether a robot pool can be provided to fill up teams that cannot field enough robots is currently under discussion. Teams are encouraged to choose the Advanced configuration in the small and large divisions as well, for example, by forming merged teams. It is likely that in the next years Advanced configurations will be enforced in all divisions. Fitness Tests Robot inspections verify that robots meet the physical specifications for their division, but they do not assess robot abilities (e.g., standing up is not required for eligibility). Fitness tests and leaderboard challenges will be included in the competition in some form, though the exact structure is still under discussion. These fitness tests serve as a benchmark to monitor the progress of the league. Failure to pass any of the tests will not prevent teams from participating. Robot Color and Jerseys Robot bodies must be colored mostly with a neutral color, such as black, gray, white, or silver, and be non-reflective. Robots use colored jersey shirts as team markers. A Jersey is a tank top-style shirt that may start at the neck and go down to the waistline, and does not cover the arms of the robots. It must cover at least 50% of the upper body of the robot. Jerseys must have a primary color that comprises more than half of the jersey. The primary color must be recognizable from the front and back. Jerseys should not contain distracting patterns that could be confused with other elements of the soccer field, such as field lines or the ball. Jersey material must be non-reflecting, non-shiny, and non-glittery. Jerseys may be manufactured from fabric and fine mesh. Each team must provide two jersey designs in distinctly different solid colors. The jersey color must clearly contrast with any uncovered parts of the robot to ensure reliable identification. Robots must display clear identification numbers (player number): a large number on the back and a smaller number on the front. Sponsorship logos will be allowed on jerseys, though detailed guidelines are still being finalized. Jersey designs must be submitted for approval prior to the competition. Robot Stand-Up Requirement Robots are expected to recover autonomously after a fall during a game. If a robot is unable to stand up on its own during play, a standard penalty will be applied. Robots that are not physically designed to stand up unassisted may still participate in the competition; however, the same penalty rules will apply when they are unable to recover from a fall during a game. Rule repository The rules are actively developed on this repository: https://github.com/RoboCup-HumanoidSoccerLeague/HSL-Rules <https://github.com/RoboCup-HumanoidSoccerLeague/HSL-Rules> However, please note that due to the early stage, those rules are subject to change. Best regards, The Executive and Technical Committee of the Humanoid Soccer League (HSL)

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RoboCup German Open 2026 - Save the Date 10 - 14/03/26
by Heinrich Mellmann 12 Nov '25

12 Nov '25

*RoboCup German Open 2026* *Save the Date - Major Leagues* https://robocup.de/german-open/?lang=en <https://robocup.de/german-open/?lang=en> Cologne Trade Fair, Cologne, Germany The 23nd RoboCup German Open 2026 will take place from *March 10-14* in Cologne. Cologne with its welcoming vibe offers a captivating mix of culture, architecture, history, and lively atmosphere. From the awe-inspiring Cologne Cathedral — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — to its dynamic art scene and riverside cafés along the Rhine, the city invites exploration. For example, visitors can enjoy world-class museums, the walkable old town with many bars, or festive events like the Cologne Carnival. Cologne is a perfect destination for both history lovers and urban adventurers and a great host for RoboCup German Open 2026. Every regional and international Major team is cordially invited to take part in the event. *RoboCup Major Leagues (international teams)* After the team setup on March 10th, the competitions will take place from 11th to 14th of March 2026 in the following main leagues: * RoboCup Humanoid Soccer League * RoboCupSoccer Small Size League * RoboCupRescue Robot League * RoboCupIndustrial Smart Manufacturing League * RoboCup@Home League Registration opens *December 1st, 2025*, further announcements will follow. Registration deadline *January 31st, 2026* Late registration deadline (team members only) *February 28th, 2026*. Teams are advised to arrange their own accommodation *as early as possible* as cost of accommodation is expected to rise in the run-up of the event. Most recent rule developments in all leagues, especially the Soccer and Smart Manufacturing Leagues will be considered for the competitions. Depending on sufficient interest from teams in participating, additional major leagues, such as the Middle Size League, may be offered. *Further information on co-located events* RoboCup German Open 2026 will be embedded in didacta 2026, which is Europe’s largest education fair and most important continuing education event for teachers. Over 700 exhibitors from more than 60 countries will present their offerings in Cologne. Participants tickets to RoboCup German Open will include didacta tickets as well. The 2nd German Robotics Conference on AI-powered robotics, organized by the Robotics Institute Germany, will take place from March 11 to 13, 2026, parallel to the RoboCup German Open and in close proximity to it. -- Prof. Dr. Alexander Ferrein Mobile Autonomous Systems & Cognitive Robotics Institute Robotics and Foundations of Computer Science FH Aachen - University of Applied Sciences Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology Eupener Strasse 70 | 52066 Aachen | Germany T: +49 241 6009 51904 | F: +49 241 6009 52190 E: ferrein(a)fh-aachen.de | W: www.ferrein.fh-aachen.de Speaker Major Competitions of the RoboCup German Regional Committee W: www.robocup.de Former Vice-Chair of the African-German Network of Excellence in Science A Network of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation W: www.agnes-h.org

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[CfP] The 12th Robotic Hamburg Open Workshop (RoHOW) | Nov 28-30, 2025
by HULKs 23 Oct '25

23 Oct '25

Dear RoboCup Community and Robot Soccer Enthusiasts, We are thrilled to officially invite you to the *12th Robotic Hamburg Open Workshop (RoHOW)*, hosted by the HULKs robot soccer team at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)! The event will take place from November 28 - November 30, 2025 at TUHH Hamburg, Germany. RoHOW is our annual networking and educational event designed for RoboCup teams to share insights, discuss advancements, and tackle challenges in humanoid robotics and robot soccer. We strive to create a friendly and collaborative environment for in-depth discussions, hands-on workshops, and informative talks. *An Open Space for Ideas* The event follows the concept of an "Open Space Conference." This means the program is agile and flexible, shaped by the topics /you/ want to explore. This means a large part of the event is dedicated to participant-driven discussions. It's the perfect place to exchange ideas on the evolution of the league or any other cutting-edge topic you're passionate about. *All Robot Soccer Teams Welcome!* In the spirit of the ongoing unification of the RoboCup soccer divisions, we want to make it clear that this invitation isn't just for SPL teams. *We warmly invite teams from all robot soccer leagues* to join the event! *New This Year: Livestream Option* For the first time, we will be setting up a livestream for our main talks, allowing teams to participate remotely. Please note that to maintain the informal and open atmosphere of our discussions, the "couch zone" sessions and informal discussion rounds will /not/ be streamed. Registration for the livestreams will be required as well. We will also have opportunities for our industry partners and sponsors to showcase their exciting projects. *Event Summary:* * *Event:* 12th Robotic Hamburg Open Workshop (RoHOW) * *Dates:* November 28-30, 2025 * *Location:* Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany * *Participation Fee:* 55€ (This covers drinks, dinner on Friday, and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday.) *Registration* To register your team (for either in-person or online participation), please send an email to *hulks(a)hulks.de* by *November 15, 2025*. In your email, please state: 1. Your team name. 2. How many members plan to attend in person. 3. If you are interested in the remote livestream option. We want to make sure everyone can attend. If any team members find it difficult to pay the full price, please send a mail to *hulks(a)hulks.de* for a "friends ticket" so we can work out a solution. For further information, please keep an eye on our website: *https://rohow.de* Please also feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions! We can't wait to welcome you to Hamburg! Best regards Team HULKs

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NaoClinic at GermanOpen
by Stella Schlotter 23 Oct '25

23 Oct '25

Hi everyone, For the GermanOpen 2026, we’d like to assess the need for a Nao Clinic and are therefore reaching out to find out which teams are planning to compete with Nao robots next year. Your feedback will help us plan accordingly. Best regards, Stella Schlotter on behalf of RoboCup Germany

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RoboEireann Code Release 2025
by Rudi Villing 16 Oct '25

16 Oct '25

Dear RoboCup SPL Teams, We hereby announce the availability of our 2025 Code Release at: https://github.com/roboeireann/RoboEireannCodeRelease This is the complete code release representing the state of the code as of the end of RoboCup 2025 with some very minor tidy up. It has everything required to run a game and also contains the code used in technical and leaderboard challenges. Best regards, Rudi (on behalf of RoboEireann)

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B-Human Code Release 2025
by Thomas Röfer 15 Oct '25

15 Oct '25

Hi RoboCuppers! The team B-Human announces the availability of our 2025 code release at https://github.com/bhuman/BHumanCodeRelease This is the complete B-Human code release! The software released is a cleaned-up version of the system we used in the 2025 competitions. This is the whole system, i.e the soccer code and the code used in the technical challenge, together with a detailed documentation (found at https://docs.b-human.de/coderelease2025<https://docs.b-human.de/coderelease2024>). Our software is released with its own 3-D simulator. It is now based on MuJoCo instead of ODE to support a more realistic simulation of the robots. Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS are fully supported. In our contribution to the Open Research Challenge, we presented our framework running on a Booster T1 robot. This is part of this code release. The code also runs on the Booster K1, although the support is not complete yet. For both robots, we also provide early versions of learned walks that work both on the real robots and in our simulator. Have fun :-) Team B-Human

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RedbackBots Code Release 2025
by Timothy Wiley 15 Oct '25

15 Oct '25

Dear SPL Teams, RedbackBots are pleased to announce that our 2025 Code Release is available at: https://github.com/rmit-computing-technologies/redbackbots-coderelease Our corresponding Team Report for 2025 is available in the repository at: https://github.com/rmit-computing-technologies/redbackbots-coderelease/blob… We are also pleased to note that our Augmented Reality Visualiser, GameSight, as discussed during the 2025 Open Research Challenge is available at: https://github.com/rmit-computing-technologies/redbackbots-gamesight Kind Regards, Timothy Wiley On behalf of the RedbackBots Team. Dr. Timothy Wiley | Lecturer, School of Computing Technologies | RMIT University Building 14, Level 11 (City Campus) | Homepage<https://timothy-wiley.github.io> | RAIsE Hub | AI Innovation Lab<http://rmit.edu.au/ailab> Executive Committee | RoboCup Soccer RoboCup Federation<https://www.robocup.org>

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Berlin United Code Release
by Stella Schlotter 14 Oct '25

14 Oct '25

Hi everyone our code release is published at https://github.com/BerlinUnited/NaoTH/releases/tag/release%2Frc2025 Best Stella

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Newsletter #1 - New RoboCup Soccer League
by Caron, Benjamin 07 Oct '25

07 Oct '25

Introducing the New RoboCup Soccer League (Official name to be announced) RoboCup 2026 will mark the beginning of a new chapter in humanoid robot soccer. The Standard Platform League (SPL) and the Humanoid League (HL) are merging into a single unified league. This brings together years of expertise, innovation, and competition under one framework. Why merge? * Shared goals: Both leagues focus on humanoid soccer, but from different angles. * Unified platform: A single set of design and gameplay rules will allow for a more direct comparison of approaches. * Future growth: A larger, more diverse league will drive faster progress in humanoid robotics. Minimum Robot Rules The Technical Committees (TC) of both the former SPL and HL are currently working on the detailed rules for the new league. For now, here are some important updates: 1. Robot eligibility for RoboCup 2026 * Both commercially available and self-built robots will be allowed, as well as mixtures * All robots that competed at RoboCup 2025 in either the SPL or HL will be eligible. * All robots listed on robotprogram.robocup.org<https://robotprogram.robocup.org/> are also accepted. 2. Minimum requirement for all competing robots * Robots participating in the league must have a human-like body shape with a torso, head, two arms, and two legs, as well as human-like symmetry and proportions regarding sizes of the body parts and weight distribution (Definition of humanoid robot from Kajima et al, 2005). * Locomotion: Robots must walk bipedally, run, or jump. They must stand upright on their feet and recover from falls. * Body Mass Index (BMI): 5 ≤ BMI ≤ 30. * Leg length: Must follow human-like proportions: 0.35 · Htop ≤ Hleg ≤ 0.7 · Htop (Htop = total robot height). * Arm span: Inspired by da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man for human-like proportions: 0.8 · Htop ≤ Aspan ≤ 1.2 · Htop. * Arm functionality: Arm length and placement must support human-like behaviors (e.g., standing up after a fall, picking up or throwing a ball). * Not allowed: non-human-like support (e.g., using arms to assist walking). * Arms must not reach below the knees when standing upright. * Head height: Must follow proportional constraints: 0.1 · Htop ≤ Hhead ≤ 0.3 · Htop. * Sensor * Allowed sensors Robots may include any of the following: * Vision: RGB camera (opening angle < 180°), stereo camera, event camera * Audio: Microphone array * Inertial: Gyroscope, accelerometer, IMU (without compass) * Force and touch: Force sensors, touch sensors, buttons/bumpers, other haptic sensors * Intrinsic: Temperature, current, joint positions, and other internal measurements * Not allowed sensors The following are prohibited to ensure equal conditions for all robots: * Omnidirectional (360°) camera * Independent compass * LIDAR (2D/3D) * Ultra-Wideband (UWB) distance measurement * Bluetooth-based localization * Unmentioned sensors are still subject to evaluation 1. Eligible standard robot platforms (non-exhaustive): * Nao V5, Nao V6 * Darwin (model) * Booster T1, K1 * Fourier GR1, GR1-Pro, GR2 * Unitree G1, H1 Envisioned Timeline The TC will share more details in the coming months on: * Divisions - mid October * More information on mechanical and electrical components - mid October * Game rules - early November * Safety - mid November RoboCup 2026 participation survey The Technical Committee would like to gather information on teams’ intentions to participate in the new Soccer League. Please fill out the following form here<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GHyBmgWAwPkWkOcLqCsbFu5WN578o2ckU8ihO4k0sn…>. Stay tuned for updates as we build this exciting new chapter in RoboCup soccer! The Technical Committee of the new RoboCup Soccer League

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