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<h1>Call for Applications for Participation</h1>
<h2>RoboCup 2020 Standard Platform League</h2>
<h2><a href="http://spl.robocup.org/" moz-do-not-send="true">spl.robocup.org</a></h2>
<h2> </h2>
<h2>Tuesday 23rd June through Monday 29th June 2020 (Parc des
Expositions de Bordeaux, France)</h2>
<h2><a href="https://2020.robocup.org" moz-do-not-send="true">2020.robocup.org</a></h2>
<p><a href="https://www.robocup.org/" moz-do-not-send="true">RoboCup</a>
is an international initiative that fosters research and education
in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence through a variety of
competitions (RoboCupSoccer, RoboCupRescue, RoboCup@Home,
RoboCupJunior) involving mostly multi-robot systems. RoboCup
currently includes a number of different robot soccer leagues that
focus on different research challenges.</p>
<p><b>The Standard Platform League (SPL)</b> is characterized by all
the teams using an identical robot platform. Participating
researchers focus on algorithmic development for fully autonomous
robots, i.e., robots that operate with no external control. The
SPL at RoboCup 2020 will use V6, V5 or older versions of the NAO
humanoid robot manufactured by <a
href="https://www.softbankrobotics.com/emea/en/nao"
moz-do-not-send="true">SoftBank Robotics</a>. The SPL robot
soccer team competition games at RoboCup 2020 will be played
indoor and outdoor between teams of five robots on a 6m x 9m
playing surface. Teams should be able to play on a randomly
assigned indoor or outdoor field within one hour.</p>
<p>The RoboCup 2020 SPL will host:</p>
<ul>
<li>A team competition</li>
<li>An open research challenge</li>
<li>Two technical challenges</li>
</ul>
<p>The team competition will consist of a similar number of games
for most teams compared to recent years. We expect to qualify 24
teams. The structure from 2019 will be used to allow all teams to
play games against teams with similar skill levels. See Appendix
A.4 of the preliminary rulebook (to be released soon) for more
details. The 24 teams participating in the team competition should
also compete in the open research challenge and technical
challenges.</p>
<p>The first technical challenge will be a "General Penalty Shoot
Out Challenge", similar to the one from RoboCup 2018. The second
technical challenge will be an obstacle avoidance challenge. The
open challenge will consist of a poster prepared by the teams
accompanied by a small presentation. All challenges will be
detailed further with the release of the SPL rules document.</p>
<p>To assist in adoption of V6 Robots source code examples and
documentation regarding V6 robots were <a
href="https://spl.robocup.org/v6-support/"
moz-do-not-send="true">published on the SPL website</a>. One can
also find example code working with V6 Robots in the code released
by participating teams. These examples allow teams to adapt their
competition code from recent years more easily to encourage use of
V6 Robots. If you need access to the RoboCup NAOqi Image and the
specific documentation, please write an email (mentioning your
team affiliation) to <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:rc-spl-tc@lists.robocup.org" moz-do-not-send="true">rc-spl-tc@lists.robocup.org</a>.</p>
<h2>Qualification</h2>
<p>All interested teams must submit an original qualification
document. For the qualification document to be considered, it must
(1) be no longer than <b>6 pages</b> and (2) include all the
following information in <b>sections with the specified headings</b>:</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Team Information:</b> the team name, the team leader(s),
and the university/company affiliation(s) of the team</li>
<li><b>Code Usage:</b> acknowledge the team’s use of any other
team’s code (1) previously from 2016 to present and (2)
anticipated at RoboCup 2020. If code is used from other teams,
is this code integrated into a code base that is mainly designed
by the applying team? Describe in detail the ‘research
publishable’ significant advancements to a module the applying
team has made in accordance with the league's qualification
procedure. If the applying team does not use any other team’s
code, state so. For further details, please have a look into the
rule book, section A.1.</li>
<li><b>Past History:</b> provide game results in RoboCup Open
competitions as well as main RoboCup competitions from 2018
onward. Include opponents and game scores from each competition
in a table. State if the team plans to participate in any
RoboCup Open competitions or friendlies prior to RoboCup 2020.</li>
<li><b>Impact:</b> What is the impact of the team’s participation
and research in RoboCup on (1) the SPL, (2) the team’s
university/community?</li>
<li><b>Other:</b> present any other information that you believe
supports your application</li>
</ol>
<p>The written material must be complemented by a link to a video
(maximum 5 minutes long, uploaded on the team’s web site or on
some video server) that demonstrates the status of the team. The
TC uses the video to determine the readiness of the team to
compete effectively, and hence should focus on the team’s ability
to play soccer. Teams who did not participate in the team
competition at RoboCup 2019 <b>must</b> include footage of at
least one robot attempting to kick off and score (this footage
must be captured as a single wide shot with no cuts). If robots
from multiple teams are active in the footage (e.g. game footage),
please include a textual overlay or additional document denoting
which robots belong to the applying team for every scene. Videos
of simulation contributions will also be accepted, but only when a
real robot is unavailable. Preference will be given to teams that
use real robots to show soccer skills in their video.</p>
<h2>Pre-Qualification</h2>
<p>Teams that satisfied the pre-qualification guidelines as set
forth in the RoboCup 2019 rulebook will be pre-qualified for
RoboCup 2020, if they submit the following original qualification
document. Teams able to pre-qualify include:</p>
<ul style="columns:2; -webkit-columns:2; -moz-columns:2; width: 50%">
<li>B-Human</li>
<li>Nao-Team HTWK</li>
<li>rUNSWift</li>
<li>Nao Devils</li>
<li>TJArk</li>
<li>UT Austin Villa</li>
<li>HULKs</li>
<li>Bembelbots</li>
<li>Starkit</li>
<li>SABANA Herons</li>
<li>Berlin United</li>
</ul>
<p>The original qualification document must include:</p>
<ol>
<li><b>Team Information:</b> the team name, leader(s), and the
university/company affiliation(s) of the team</li>
<li><b>Code Usage:</b> acknowledge the team’s use of any other
team’s code (1) previously from 2016 to present and (2)
anticipated at RoboCup 2020. If code is used from other teams,
is this code integrated into a code base that is mainly designed
by the applying team? Describe in detail the ‘research
publishable’ significant advancements to a module the applying
team has made in accordance with the league's qualification
procedure. If the applying team does not use any other team’s
code, state so. For further details, please have a look into the
rule book, section A.1.</li>
<li><b>TRR:</b> A link to a team research report describing their
work for RoboCup 2019 (which must be published in a publicly
available location)</li>
<li><b>Code Release:</b> A link to a public code release as
detailed in the 2019 SPL rulebook</li>
</ol>
<p>If a joint 2019 team splits, only one team can be pre-qualified
for 2020 (please, indicate which one).</p>
<h2>Qualification for Regional Opens Only</h2>
<p>Teams may also submit a short intent to participate in a regional
open if they do not wish to participate in the 2020 RoboCup
competition. Although teams may participate in regional opens
without submitting this intent to participate, teams who submit an
intent to participate and become qualified will be eligible for
future special robot pricing. Special robot pricing for team
competing in RoboCup Events are still being discussed. Updates
about special prices will be announced as soon as offers and
conditions are finalized.</p>
<p>Teams must submit the following information by 22nd of January
2020: (1) The team name, leader(s), and the university/company
affiliation(s) of the team and (2) a short statement describing
the status/progress of the team. A link to a short video showing
robot soccer behaviours and/or game play (using robots or in
simulation) may be included if available.</p>
<h2>Submission and Evaluation</h2>
<p>All applications with the (pre-)qualification material must be
submitted by <b>22nd of January 2020</b>, by email to <a
class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:rc-spl-tc@lists.robocup.org" moz-do-not-send="true">rc-spl-tc@lists.robocup.org</a>.</p>
<p>Applications must not be sent to personal SPL TC/OC email
addresses and must not contain video attachments.</p>
<p>Note that applying serves as a statement of commitment to
participate in the RoboCup 2020 SPL. If you have doubts regarding
the ability of your team to participate (due to funding, visas,
etc.), please apply by the deadline but note this in your
application. Declining to participate in any competition after the
official early registration period has opened may negatively
affect future applications (the later you decline, the worse it
will affect future applications).</p>
<p>Teams are encouraged to consider joint participation. Joint
proposals will be judged on combined merit.</p>
<p>Applications will be evaluated to consider a variety of
components including:</p>
<ol>
<li>Potential to play competitive games at RoboCup 2020
(demonstrated ability to play soccer, previous results, etc.)</li>
<li>Contributions (and potential contributions) to league (code
releases/papers, active in organization, developing own code,
etc.)</li>
<li>Diversity (region, team make-up, unique characteristics, etc.)</li>
</ol>
<p>Qualification decisions, including alternate lists, will be
announced by 22nd February 2020. We expect to qualify 24 teams for
RoboCup 2020 in Bordeaux as well as up to 8 teams for Regional
Opens only.</p>
<h2>Robot Acquisition</h2>
<p>Teams who submit an intent to participate and become qualified
will be eligible for future special robot pricing. Special robot
pricing for team competing in RoboCup Events are still being
discussed. Updates about special prices will be announced as soon
as offers and conditions are finalized.</p>
<i>RoboCup 2020 Standard Platform League Technical and Organizing
Committees</i>
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