[robocup-legged] No more AIBOs through RoboCup

[Peter Stone]

Dear RoboCup legged leaguers,

This message contains some bad news about the future availability of
AIBOs through RoboCup.  I am forwarding a message from Masahiro
Fujita, who did everything he could to help us secure some extra
robots to be sold to RoboCup teams now and in the future.  But as you
will see, it is just not possible.

We should all thank Masahiro for trying to do this for us.  I'm sure
it took a lot of time and effort on his part to explore the options,
find a company willing to pre-purchase the robots, and try to find the
extra robots.  This was something that he did not have to do, but did
for us anyway.

At this point, everyone's only option is to try individually to buy
some robots.  I have heard that they are no longer available in
Europe, and possibly in the US as well.  There was a previous message
suggesting Ebay as an option.

Everyone who has the funds to buy more robots, please make every
effort to find some so that the league can continue for as long as
possible.

Best Regards,

     Peter


> Dear Peter and Exec members,
> 
> I have been communicating with ERC people and trying 
> get some amount of AIBOs for RoboCup. However, at the beginning 
> of March, it had already become difficult to order additional AIBOs
> in the world. 
> We found the company that agreed to pre-purchase AIBOs
> for RoboCup, however, it was late.
> 
> Sorry but I can not help RoboCuppers in the situation.
> 
> When I took a look at the list of orders of AIBO, I found many
> universities that RoboCup teams belong to. So, I think that many teams could
> order the AIBOs by themselves. 
> On the other hand I also know many messages from teams 
> that can not order the AIBOs. I asked ERC people if there is possibility to 
> make additional AIBOs, but they said it is difficult, basically because of
> parts stock problem. But there are other problems they have to solve if they
> 
> make additional AIBOs. To keep the product line is very cost consuming, and 
> it has to keep human resources, too. 
> 
> Please understand the situation.
> I hope that there is no problem for RoboCup 2006. 
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> ---- Masahiro