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🤖 RoboCup SPL 2025 – Newsletter #5
by Caron, Benjamin 30 Jun '25

30 Jun '25

Dear SPL Teams, The RoboCup is just a few days away. In this newsletter, we present the last information you need before the competition. ________________________________ 📘 Final Competition Rules Released The final version of the RoboCup SPL 2025 Rules has now been published. All participating teams are expected to comply with these rules throughout the competition. Please review them carefully and ensure your code and robots are aligned with the latest updates. 📄 <https://spl.robocup.org/downloads/#2025> Rules are available here<https://spl.robocup.org/downloads/#2025> Here is the list of changes that got updated after the prior newsletter: * There are no changes to the main competition. However, in this newsletter, you will find a section that overwrites the rules to accommodate a limited Nao Clinic and to integrate both Challenge Shield and Champion Cup into the same tournament. * Both the KICKin-Rollin Challenge and Leaderboard Challenge received minor updates. These are mostly clarifications, but if you expect to participate, please review them. * Finally, a section has been added to define an overall ranking between the KICKin-Rollin Challenge and Open Research Challenge. ________________________________ 🛠️ Limited Nao Clinic – Temporary Adjustments As announced in the previous newsletter, there will not be a full Nao Clinic as known in past years. However, we can now confirm the presence of a limited Nao Clinic. Repairs will be limited in manpower, spare parts, and diagnostic software. While every effort will be made to support teams, the following measures are in place to minimize robot damage: * All matches until the knockout round will be played with 5 vs. 5 robots. Champions Cup rules still apply for Champions Cup matches. If both teams agree, they can play 7 vs. 7. We expect the knockout round, or at least the final bracket, to be played in 7 vs. 7 for Champions Cup teams. * The pickup rule is loosened. A team may now request a pickup at any time to prevent damage. The head referee can still decline the request if it interferes with play and does not qualify under the regular rule. This flexibility aims to reduce damage, but the rule may be revised if abused. * Assistant referees may catch robots if this does not distract from their primary duties. * Although pushing rules have not changed, everyone, especially head referees, are encouraged to refresh their understanding, as many falls are caused by contact. ________________________________ 🎮 Match Format: Challenge Shield vs. Champions Cup RoboCup 2025 will follow a hybrid match format. When at least one Challenge Shield team is present, Challenge Shield rules apply. Otherwise, Champions Cup rules apply. Key differences for Challenge Shield include: * Team executing a Set Play is sent via the GameController. * The referee must wear red gloves. * All matches are played 5 vs. 5. ________________________________ 🧪 Open Research Challenge – Reminder Teams must submit a brief description of their planned contribution by July 1, 2025 to the Technical Committee (rc-spl-tc(a)lists.robocup.org). Multiple contributions per team are allowed. Each submission should include: * Objective: What the innovation is and why it's relevant. * Expected Impact: How it benefits SPL or improves existing systems. * Implementation Feasibility: Required resources and timeline. After the deadline, participation may still be allowed if the schedule permits. Slots will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. You should still submit your interest even after the deadline. ________________________________ 📊 Leaderboard Challenge – Reminder Teams should also send their intention to participate in one or more Leaderboard Challenges by July 1, 2025 to the Technical Committee (rc-spl-tc(a)lists.robocup.org). Please include the specific challenges you're targeting. As with the Open Research Challenge, late participation may be accepted if scheduling allows. ________________________________ 🏁 KICKin-Rollin Challenge – Optional Pre-Registration This challenge does not require advance registration, but if you express interest before the competition, it will help us plan appropriately. A registration deadline will be announced during the event. ________________________________ 📜 Pre-Qualification Rules for RoboCup 2026 The following pre-qualification criteria will apply for RoboCup 2026: * Top three teams from the main competition (or four, if the top three include a Challenge Shield team) * Highest-ranked Challenge Shield team if not already qualified * Highest-ranked team not already qualified based on combined results from the Open Research and KICKin-Rollin Challenges ________________________________ ⚽ Extra Balls – Request from LOC The local organizing committee (LOC) was unable to acquire official SPL balls in time. Therefore, we kindly ask teams to bring extra balls from their inventory to serve as official game balls. Please inform the OC if you can contribute at rc-spl-oc(a)lists.robocup.org ________________________________ If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re looking forward to seeing your robots on the field in Salvador! The RoboCup SPL Technical Committee & Organizing Committee

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BHumanCode Usage WisTex United
by Adam Labiosa 19 Jun '25

19 Jun '25

Hello all, I’m writing to announce the use of the BHumanCodeRelease (2023) version for the WisTex United team. We consider our codebase to be derived software as we use the BHuman motion control, localization, perception and communication modules. The specific contribution of our work (taken from our SPL 2025 application) is as follows: Our team codebase for the 2025 competition is based upon the \href{https://github.com/bhuman/BHumanCodeRelease/releases/tag/coderelease2023}{BHuman 2023 code release }. As described below, our primary contribution has been to replace the high level behaviors written by BHuman with new, learned behaviors trained with deep reinforcement learning. As discussed below, we believe these changes to be transformative in nature. Thus, as of now, our robots use the perception, state-estimation, low-level motion control and communication modules provided by BHuman. We thank BHuman for making their full software stack available. Additionally, we used the open source library \textbf{\href{https://github.com/DLR-RM/stable-baselines3}{stable-baselines3}} to train our policies, using proximal policy optimization\cite{https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1707.06347}\cite{stable-ba…. We also note our additions this year are improvements in learned cooperation which substantially changes our code but generally leave the BHuman modules unchanged from their 2023 version. We also will once again release our updated code before the end of the year. Adam

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RedbackBots code announcement
by Timothy Wiley 13 Jun '25

13 Jun '25

Hello SPL Teams, RedbackBots would like to announce the integration of the following contributions from SPL teams as part of our codebase for 2025: * NAO Devils' whistle detection (2024) * Updated to B-Human's vision components (2024) excluding ball detection We thank these teams for their continued and extensive contributions to the Soccer SPL community and look forward to catching up with everyone at competition. 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 Standard Platform League (SPL) SPL Website<https://spl.robocup.org> | RoboCup Federation<https://www.robocup.org>

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🏆 SPL RoboCup 2025 – Updates & Meeting Announcements
by Caron, Benjamin 06 Jun '25

06 Jun '25

Dear SPL Teams, RoboCup 2025 is approaching quickly, and the SPL Technical Committee would like to share a few important updates and reminders: 🤖 SPL-Humanoid Challenge Postponed Due to limited participation from Humanoid League teams, the SPL-Humanoid Challenge “Pass Masters: Bridging the Leagues” has been postponed to 2026. We plan to revisit this initiative at RoboCup and explore ways to increase engagement across leagues. 🛠️ Final Ramp Design Announced The final version of the ramp will follow the RedbackBots design. Teams should expect one extension to be used by default. A second extension may be added at the Technical Committee’s discretion during the competition to compensate for exceptional circumstances, such as unexpectedly high field friction. 🔗 More details and documentation are available here: https://github.com/rmit-computing-technologies/redbackbots-spl-ballramp 🎮 GameController Compatibility Teams are expected to ensure their robots function properly with the latest version of the GameController. 🔗 Download the GameController here: https://github.com/RoboCup-SPL/GameController3 🔧 On-Site Robot Repairs Unfortunately, Aldebaran has confirmed they will not provide a NAO clinic at RoboCup 2025. The competition will proceed as planned, but this may lead to rule adjustments to reduce the risk of robot damage. We are still in discussions with Aldebaran to determine whether limited on-site repairs may be possible. In parallel, the trustees are exploring alternatives such as providing a small pool of spare robots and basic parts to enable self-repairs if needed. The Team Leader Meeting on June 14 (11:00 UTC) will include time to discuss this situation. 🧠 Team Leader Meeting 📅 14 June 2025 – 11:00 UTC 📍 SPL Discord – #referee-meeting channel Agenda: * The current situation with Aldebaran and its impact on the league * Discussion on the next robot platform * Open discussion & updates ⚖️ Referee Meeting 📅 21 June 2025 – 11:00 UTC 📍 SPL Discord – #referee-meeting channel Agenda: * Quick overview of the 2025 rules and key changes from last year * Highlighting the “unpenalize” testing mode * Referee needs and delegation opportunities 🔍 The final version of the rules will be published shortly after this meeting. ________________________________ Thank you, SPL Technical Committee

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Save the Date: RoHOW 2025 - November 28–30
by HULKs TUHH 23 Apr '25

23 Apr '25

*Dear RoboCup Teams and Robotics Enthusiasts,* We’re excited to announce that the *12th Robotic Hamburg Open Workshop (RoHOW)* will take place *from November 28 to November 30, 2025* at the *Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)*! Hosted by the *HULKs*, TUHH’s humanoid robot soccer team, RoHOW is a unique networking and educational event tailored for RoboCup teams and researchers in the field of humanoid robotics. The workshop offers an open platform to exchange insights, share advancements, and dive into in-depth discussions—especially in the context of robot soccer. Our agile and participant-driven program will once again follow the *Open Space Conference* format, allowing for maximum flexibility to match your interests. Expect engaging talks and workshops on topics such as computer vision, locomotion, deep learning, league development, and more. Industry partners and sponsors will also be present to showcase their latest innovations in robotics. 📍 *Save the Date:* 🗓️ *November 28–30, 2025* 📍 *TUHH, Hamburg* 📝 To help us make this year’s event even better, we’d love your feedback on last year’s RoHOW — you can share your thoughts here: https://forms.gle/uLT9UhoV8AhXVvnx9 💸 A *participation fee* will likely apply again this year. The exact amount is yet to be determined. 📬 A separate email with the *registration deadline* and further details will follow soon! We’re looking forward to seeing many of you again and welcoming new faces to RoHOW 2025. Mark your calendars and stay tuned! Best regards, *The HULKs Team* Hamburg University of Technology

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🌍🤖 SPL x Humanoid – Common Challenge Discussion 🤖🌍 - May 3rd - 11:00 UTC
by Caron, Benjamin 22 Apr '25

22 Apr '25

Dear Teams, You're invited to a global community meeting on May 3rd at 11:00 UTC, bringing together teams from the Standard Platform League (SPL) and the Humanoid League (HL) to discuss and establish a common foundation for the joint challenge at RoboCup 2025. 📍 Location: Global RoboCup Discord in "General" voice channel 💬 Join here: https://discord.gg/dcFgqFTeCy 🕒 Time zone help: Time zone converter<https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/?qm=1&lid=100,6077243,2950159,3169070,215817…> ________________________________ 🗓️ Discussion Topics * Sharing of image datasets * Cross-league robot coordination for passing * Use of visual gestures for communication * Any other suggestions from participants ________________________________ This meeting is intended to be community-driven, with minimal involvement from the committees. Any outcomes from the discussion will be considered optional agreements, not official rule changes, and it's up to each team to adopt them voluntarily. 📝 Meeting notes will be made publicly available at: https://spl.robocup.org/downloads/ Looking forward to your participation and collaboration! Best regards, The SPL and HL Committees

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RoboCup SPL Newsletter No. 3 2025 - New Challenge and rules updates
by Caron, Benjamin 01 Mar '25

01 Mar '25

Dear SPL Teams, New Challenge - Pass-Masters-Bridging-the-Leagues We are excited to introduce a new challenge this year in collaboration with the Humanoid League! The goal of Pass-Masters is to enable ball passing between a NAO and a Humanoid robot, marking a first step toward inter-league collaboration. For full details, refer to the challenge presentation here<https://spl.robocup.org/wp-content/uploads/Pass-Masters-Bridging-the-League…>. Challenge Update - KICKin-Rollin We have made minor clarifications that do not change the core concept of the challenge. However, we strongly encourage teams to review the updated version, particularly the section on challenge procedures. Ramp Proposal – Deadline Extension The deadline to submit a ramp design is being extended until after the German Open to allow for discussion and potential testing there. There is currently only one proposed ramp design. Meanwhile, any teams who have already tried out that ramp are encouraged to submit any relevant feedback on the following form: https://forms.gle/i4svZeQh4tWD9JnH9 Rulebook - Drop Ball Rule We have made small adjustments to better align with the rule’s intent. The rules now acknowledge that a drop ball does not always require the robots to restart from the sideline, and there are situations, such as Global Game Stuck, where they will resume play from their current positions using a standard Set as they did last year. Best regards, RoboCup SPL TC

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Naova code usage for German Open 2025
by Club Naova 07 Feb '25

07 Feb '25

Dear SPL Teams, In accordance with the terms and conditions of the B-Human code release's license, Naova announces the use of the following B-Human modules for the German Open 2025. - Ball perceptor from 2021 - Referee gesture detection from 2024 We would like to thank the B-Human Team for sharing their code and acknowledge their contribution to the RoboCup SPL. [signature_914140835]Olivier St-Pierre | Étudiant en génie logiciel Capitaine du club scientifique Naova École de technologie supérieure | 1100, rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montréal (Qc) Canada | H3C1K3 Tél. : 438-226-6639| Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/clubnaova/> | Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/naorobotique/> | Site Web<https://www.clubnaova.ca/>

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RoboCup German Open 2025 - Call for participation - Major Leagues
by Heinrich Mellmann 21 Jan '25

21 Jan '25

RoboCup German Open 2025 Call for Participation - Major Leagues https://robocup.de/german-open NürnbergMesse, Frankenhalle, Germany The 22nd RoboCup German Open 2025 will take place from March 12-16 in Nuremberg. Nuremberg, the second largest city in Bavaria, combines medieval charm with modern vitality. The city is known for its iconic castle, half-timbered houses and old city walls and has great historical significance. The city flourishes as a cultural and innovative centre where history and modern life coexist in a wonderful way. 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 12th, the competitions will take place from 13 to 16 March 2025 in the following main leagues: • RoboCupSoccer Standard Platform League • RoboCupSoccer Humanoid League (KidSize and AdultSize) • RoboCupSoccer Small Size League • RoboCupRescue Robot League • RoboCupIndustrial Logistics League • RoboCupIndustrial @Work League • RoboCup@Home Open Platform League Registration opens *** December 15, 2024 *** Registration deadline *** January 31st, 2025 *** Late registration deadline (team members only) *** February 28th, 2025 *** When registration opens, visit https://register.robocup.de to register your RoboCup Major League team. Details on the registration (fee, rules, travel) are available on the website. Teams are advised to make their own accommodation arrangements as early as possible, as places are limited before March 13. ----------------------- RoboCup Junior (German teams) ------------------------- From March 13-16, 2025 the final event of the German RoboCupJunior Championship will be held at RoboCup German Open 2025 in Nuremberg. The best teams that have qualified in the eight previous German qualifying tournaments will take part. The best German Junior teams in the 2025 German Junior Final will qualify for RoboCup 2025 in Brazil and for the European RoboCupJunior Competition 2025 in Italy. --------------------------- Organization Committee ---------------------------- • Oskar von Stryk (General Chair) • Stefan May (Local Chair) • Alexander Ferrein (German RoboCup Committee, Spokesperson Major) The Major Leagues Organizing Committee: • Heinrich Mellmann (Standard Platform League) • Maike Paetzel-Prüsmann (Humanoid League) • Nicolai Ommer (Small Size League) • Johannes Pellenz, Stefan May, Thomas Sander (Rescue Robot League & RMRC) • Sven Wachsmuth (@Home League) • Alexander Ferrein (Logistics League) • Christoph Steup (@Work League) ------------------------------ Co-located Events ------------------------------ Parallel to the RoboCup German Open 2025 the first German Robotics Conference organized by the newly established Robotics Institute Germany (RIG) will take place. The conference will bring together the leading German researchers in AI-based robotics. Also in parallel, the Freizeit Messe will take place, which is one of Germany's largest leisure and lifestyle fairs. It attracts about 70.000 visitors each year. Many participants from both events are expected to visit RoboCup German Open 2025. ------------------------------- Important Dates ------------------------------- • 2024-12-15 Major teams early registration starts • 2025-01-31 Major teams registration deadline, team member registration deadline • 2025-02-28 Late registration deadline (team members only) • 2025-03-12 Set-up day Major League teams • 2025-03-13 to 16 Competition days • 2025-03-16 Major and Junior finals The event is open to the public during all days from 9 am to 5 pm ----------------------------------- Contact ---------------------------------- Please contact germanopen(a)robocup.de for any questions. See you all at the 22nd RoboCup German Open 2025! Best regards, German RoboCup Committee -------------------------------- Acknowledgment ------------------------------- The RoboCup German Open 2025 are supported by the German Federal Ministry for Research and Education (BMBF) within the Robotics Institute Germany under grant number 16ME1001.

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RoboCup SPL Call for Participation 2025 - Deadline Reminder
by Tom Ellis 16 Jan '25

16 Jan '25

Call for Participation Reminder RoboCup 2025 Standard Platform League Hi RoboCuppers, Just a quick reminder that all applications for the 2025 RoboCup SPL Competition, with the relevant qualification material, must be submitted by 17th of February 2025, just over 1 month from now! Full Application Details can be found at spl.robocup.org/call-for-participation-2025<https://spl.robocup.org/call-for-participation-2025/> Tom Ellis, on behalf of the RoboCup 2025 Standard Platform League Technical and Organizing Committees

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