RoboCup 2005 Committee News

** RoboCup2005 Committee NEWS No. 11 (2005.5.23) **

The plug type for AC 100V and 220V
AC 100V: 60 Hz, B-type plug (as in US)
AC 220V: 60 Hz, F-type plug (C-type + GND as in Germany).
B-type and F-type are shown in http://kropla.com/electric.htm#plugs .

** RoboCup2005 Committee NEWS No. 9 (2005.4.17) **

1. REGISTRATION DUE APRIL 20th

The deadline of RoboCup 2005 registration is April 20. All the teams and committees (except for Junior teams) are requested to make registration by this deadline. You will find the registration page under "Particilants" in the RoboCup 2005 web page.

Many troubles and problems are reported to us. I am really sorry for this inconvenience for you. The registration page is handled by Nittsu Co. It takes time to update the contents. Therefore, I would like to ask you to use the PDF > fax or email form to the registration desk instead of online, in case you have any trouble. I hate this, but time is precious at present.

Please note the following.
- Committee members should make registration as symposium participants.
- The web page does not have any information about travel support, but it will be calculated after the registration procedure (not online), and the remaining amount will be charged/refunded.
- Junior teams will be handled separately.

** RoboCup2005 Committee NEWS No. 7 (2005.4.5) **

1. TEAM REGISTRATION OPEN

The following registration page of RoboCup 2005 Osaka has open for Soccer and Rescue.
http://www.robocup2005.org/participants/registration.aspx
The deadline of the registration is April 20, 2005. Please complete your registration by this deadline.

Teams and participants of Soccer and Rescue who need documents for visa from the organizing committee should make action as soon as possible to avoid any problems caused by late visa application. Please visit the web page explaining the exact procedure.

Note that your must make registration BEFORE the request of visa documents. Osaka City can never submit the documents for security if they cannot confirm the registration.

The following are schedule of team registration of Soccer and Rescue.
4/20/05 Registration deadline
5/15/05 Member change deadline
6/10/05 Payment deadline
-- 6/13/05 Cancellation 50% refund
6/14/05-- Cancellation 0% refund

The schedule of Junior will be announced separately.

2. ACCOMMODATIONS

RoboCup 2005 web page introduces the following link for hotel
information at participants > Travel Arrangements > About Osaka.
http://www.octb.jp/english/hotels/

TIPS: The smaller value of the price range shows the price of ordinary single rooms without discount in most hotels. Single rooms and double/twin rooms have very different price in Japan. Sometimes a double/twin room cost us twice as high as a single room. Price of a hotel does not change if there were a big event in Japan. No big event is scheduled during RoboCup, and RoboCup is a small event for the big Osaka City.

You can find several hotels of discount price in the following web pages of travel agencies in addition to the above page. But discount reservation for July has not started for most inexpensive hotels. Usually it starts two-three months ago.
http://www.mytrip.net/en/index.html inexpensive hotel reservation
http://www.jtb.co.jp/eng/ the largest travel agency
http://www.knt.co.jp/kokusai/top.htm 2nd largest travel agency

There are only two hotels in walking distance. You should use train to arrive at Intex Osaka.

3. SCHEDULE OF ROBOCUP 2005

Soccer and Rescue
7/9 (Sat) -10 (Sun) Arena setup
7/11 (Mon) -12 (Tue) Carrying-in, Team setup
7/12 (Tue) Press preview
7/13 (Wed) -17 (Sun) Open to public
7/13 (Wed) -15 (Fri) Preliminary round
7/16 (Sat) Quarter-final, Semi-final
7/17 (Sun) Final, Carrying-out
7/17 (Sun) 17:30- Award ceremony (Bldg. 6)
7/18 (Sun) -19 (Mon) Symposium

Junior
7/13 (Wed) Team setup
7/14 (Thu) - 15 (Fri) Preliminary round
7/16 (Sat) Junior summit
7/16 (Sat) - 17 (Sun) Semi-final, Final
7/17 (Sun) 15:00- Award ceremony (arena)
7/18 (Sun) -19 (Mon) Symposium

Social Events
7/12 (Tue) 16:00- Welcome reception (arena)
7/13 (Wed) 9:30- Opening ceremony (Intex plaza)
7/15 (Fri) 18:30- Banquet (Naniwa ..)
7/16 (Sat) 17:00- Junior party (arena)
7/19 (Mon) 17:30- Farewell party (Hyatt)

Time Table of Final Day (7/17, Sun) for Soccer and Rescue
12:00- Humanoid Final
13:00- SSL Final
14:00- Simulation Final
14:40- Rescue Simulation Final (Exhibition)
15:00- Legged Final
16:00- MSL Final
17:30- Award Ceremony
Note: Final games of Rescue Robot League and Rescue Simulation League
will be continuously played on this day.

4. MEDIA COMMUNICATION AND CONTROL

It is requested to friendly communicate with media as far as possible. It is important that RoboCup 2005 is broadcasted and is written appropriately so that open public knows our scientific/technical activities well. It is also essential to record RoboCup 2005 Osaka as a video program including the essence of our effort. Your contribution is highly expected.

The organizing committee will categorize media clues such as official/unofficial. The MEDIA CHAIR of your league controls them. They cannot enter the paddock without approval of the media chair. Requests to media should be clearly notified beforehand in order to avoid possible trouble and misunderstandings.

5. CARGO SHIPPING

All the teams MUST send cargoes and mails EXACTLY as written in the web page. Anything should NOT be sent directly to Intex Osaka, irrespective of size, weight, and entity, since the number of staffs is too small to wait for cargoes and mails at Intex Osaka.

Teams can CARRY their robots by themselves to Intex Osaka, if teams handle them by themselves.

When teams send robots, PC, instruments, etc. by cargo, teams must get CARNET beforehand. Otherwise, the cargo may be stopped at a custom office. It causes SERIOUS PROBLEM. In the worst case, the robot cannot enter Japan in time for the games.

6. TEAM SPONSORS

Try to find sponsors for your team and robots. The following are the rules, which have become softer than last year.
0) Sponsor logo can be shown only on team shirts, robots, and team posters.
1) Team shirts may have sponsor logo of any size with the condition that it does not affect the game and the league.
2) Robots may have sponsor logo with the condition that it does not affect the game and the league.
3) Team poster can include small sponsor logo, but it is prohibited to advertise any products and services of the sponsors.
4) Distribution of commercial brochures, advertisement of sponsor products and services, and any commercial activities like selling products and services are prohibited. If teams would like to do the above, they must buy the exhibition space.
5) The team logo must not include any statement concerning politics nor religion. Is must not be related to ethical problems such as crime, mental abuse, etc.
6) The team logo must not be related to any commercial activities.
7) Teams are required to change or withdraw their setup, presentation, and use of sponsorship logos, brochures, etc. upon request by the RoboCup Organizing Committee, if the sponsor material or its presentation creates a conflict of any kind with the organization and execution of the RoboCup competition.

7. TRAVEL SUPPORT

The amount of the travel support will be notified soon to the team leader if the team requested the support. The amount would be much less than the teams expected. But please understand that the budget situation of the RoboCup Federation is really tight and that we did the best for this decision as fair as possible.

The travel support will cancel out the registration fee.
Travel support > Reg. fee:
The remaining money will be paid to the teams
Travel support <= Reg. fee:
The remaining amount will be charged to the teams.

** RoboCup2005 Committee NEWS No. 6 (2005.2.21) **

1. HUNT YOUR TEAM SPONSORS

RoboCup 2005 will encourage teams to find sponsors by their own effort!!

RoboCup had really strict rule on team sponsor logo because of a contract with DK, an advertising agency. After the expiration of the contract with them last year, the logo rule will be changed. In summary, the following rule will be applied for RoboCup 2005. Official explanation in exact words will be announced later since the following sentences are not legally correct.

1) Team shirts may have sponsor logo of any size with the condition that it does not affect the game and the league.
2) Robots may have sponsor logo with the condition that it does not affect the game and the league.
3) Team poster can include small sponsor logo, but it must not advertise any products and services of the sponsors.
4) Distribution of commercial brochures, advertisement of sponsor products and services, and any commercial activities are prohibited.
5) The logo must not include any statement concerning politics nor religion. Is must not be related to ethical problems such as crime, mental abuse, etc.
6) The logo must not be related to any commercial activities.
7) Teams are responsible for any trouble caused by the team sponsorship.

This change would make it easier for teams to have their own sponsors.