[robocup-nao] RoboCup Soccer SPL Selection Process and Questions

[Rick Middleton]

Dear SPL Team Leaders and Members

A number of teams have asked for specific feedback on their unsuccessful 
application to the 2010 RoboCup Soccer SPL competition. We are not in a 
position to give individual teams specific feedback on their 
applications (for reasons which I hope are clear from discussions later 
in this email). However, we are happy to describe the process used to 
arrive at the decisions.

A total of 32 applications were received for the 24 places advertised in 
the call for submissions. There has been recent discussion on the 
possibility of expanding to 32, but overall, it was our view that this 
was too large an expansion at this point in time.

Within the 24 slots, the TC had previously decided that teams from 2009 
SPL would prequalify if they both:
(i) Submitted a team report from 2009 together with a statement of their 
intention to participate;
and
(ii) They were either (a) in the top 8 in the competition in 2009; or 
(b) 2009 was their first year in the Nao competition.

This meant that in fact, 15 teams were pre-qualified, and therefore, the 
competition for remaining spots was tough (17 teams competing for 9 
spots). In addition, it should be noted that the interpretation of 
(ii)(b) means that in the future, we can expect significantly less teams 
to pre-qualify.

Members of the TC who were members of teams not pre-qualified were 
excluded at this point of the decision process. The remaining members 
discussed, and individually ranked the remaining 17 teams. In their 
rankings a variety of factors were considered including (in no 
particular order):
* perceived quality of the research group
* perceived ability to put together a highly competitive entry to 2010
* balance of including new teams to add fresh impetus to the 
competition, together with including teams with a strong history of 
competing in SPL/4LL
* some attention was paid to geographic distribution of teams and to 
give some preference to teams without other RoboCup activity
* for teams that have competed before, past performance in both 
challenges and/or competitions was considered

Based on the rankings, and some further discussions of teams 'near the 
cut off point', the subgroup of the TC made a final decision.

It is clear to us that there are a number of teams with some very strong 
features to their applications who missed out this year which is of 
course regrettable, but under the circumstances this seems inevitable.



In terms of other questions that may be relevant that have been asked 
concerning SPL:

Q1: Are teams that have not qualified for the soccer competition able to 
compete in local opens?

Reply: We would definitely support this. Participation in local open 
competitions helps teams improve their performance, and demonstrates a 
commitment to RoboCup/SPL despite the disappointment of missing the 
international competition in this instance.
* The German Open (http://www.robocup-german-open.de/) is to be held in 
Magdeburg, 15-18 April this year. Applications are due in by 15 January.
* US Open: Eric Chown (echown at bowdoin.edu) mentioned that there have 
been discussions of a US open, and it seems quite possible that one will 
be held early April this year.
* There are often other open competitions (for example: I have heard a 
call for an Iran open this year; last year there was a Japan open).


Q2: Are teams that have not qualified for the soccer competition able to 
compete in Singapore for the Technical Challenges?

Reply: Sorry, no final answer to this as yet, but subject to OC approval 
(that is, there being sufficient space etc. to support this), we would 
be in favour of this.


Q3: Are teams that have not qualified for the soccer competition able to 
access: (i) Nao purchases/upgrades at the RoboCup rate; (ii) The Nao 
RoboCup workshop (to be held early Feb '10 in Paris).

Reply: Clearly the main issues here are commercial/logistics issues and 
are for Aldebaran to decide. If Aldebaran are able to make the required 
extensions to the arrangements, the TC would be supportive.




Yours sincerely

Rick Middleton
(on behalf of the SPL Technical Committee)