[robocup-legged] New robot in the Standard Platform League

[Oskar von Stryk]

> > I am also wondering why only 8 teams should be supported by Naos in
> > 2008.
> > In case there is sufficient interest more teams should be allowed
> > to participate.
> 
> These conditions were defined by Aldebaran and we accepted them. If we know
> how many teams are interested, we may ask them again, but for now the fact
> is that there are limitations.

This restriction on the number of robots and teams is 
surprising as they had been working on the robot for more than two years.
It also has been a condition on the open call that a potentially large 
number of teams should be supplied soon.


> > Finally, as a member of the Four-Legged and the Humanoid Robot League
> > I am very curious to see the performance of the Nao in 2008
> > in direct comparison with the humanoid KidSize League.
> 
> Since the teams will barely have four months to prepare for the competition
> with a completely unknown robot (and most of them have never worked with a
> humanoid before), it would be a shame for the kid-size league if any of
> their teams performs significantly worse.

Nevertheless, we have a well established Humanoid Robot League in 
RoboCup. The Nao would fit perfectly in the KidSize Humanoid 
Robot League from its overall height.

To foster synergies and exchange between the new SPL and the Humanoid 
Robot League (HL) it would therefore be desireable that the Nao meets the 
further design requirements of the Humanoid KidSize as well (like feet 
area and height of the center of mass etc.).
The HL is already discussing now to allow other robot body colors
than black like white or grey in future competitions.

Then teams from the SPL may more easily move on to the HL or teams 
from the HL may use the Nao as well. This would be large benefit for both 
leagues.


Although all RoboCup Leagues officially share the same 2050 goal
the interaction and exchange between the different leagues
can still be improved a lot (and it should be to accelerate the pace 
of progress).

De facto you are now going to introduce another Humanoid Robot League (the SPL)
in parallel to and, as it currently looks, completely independent of the 
well established Humanoid Robot League (HL) with its own  
state of research and development and tremendous progress in recent years.

It would make much more sense to me if the SPL with a standard humanoid 
robot is set up right in the beginning to interact and to foster synergies
with the Humanoid Robot League (and, of course, the 3D simulation league
which starts to use humanoid robots).


Regards,
Oskar