German Open day four - Game for third place vs SPQR

 With only a short time for preparations, this game is a challenge for both teams. By some calculations the temperature of the robots joints may not even have come down to ambient levels. This match was rematch for the group phase were we managed to draw 2:2. This promises to be interesting.

 The first half started with us getting a few robots punished this left us exposed with only three robots on the field. However SPQR did not manage to exploit this weakness. With some intense play in the center of the field this half concluded with a score of 0:0.

 The first actions of the second half were led by a strong attack from SPQR. Then we managed to clear the ball only to be fouled on the sprint to their goal. The second half continued to be intense as no team made any progress.

This left us in the second penalty shootout of the day. Hoping for better result than before, we bit our nails. The first ray of hope: we managed to shoot the first ball on the first touch, allowing the goal. We then followed with a great save from our goalie. The tension mounted as our second shooter lined up at the edge of the penalty box. This one had two touches on the ball stopping the play. The shooter for SPQR managed to score, equalizing. Our final shooter managed to score. This left the decision to the final two robots. The ball was in the goal, according to the team of referees.

With no decision after 3 penalties the tension and stress for our human members mounted. Now every kick counts! Our next shooter touched the ball twice. This left a huge opportunity for SPQR. Our goalie managed to save it.

However the rule for a sudden death after penalties gives a different priority to different actions. A shot at the goal that is saved is weighed higher as a ball not shot or shot twice. This meant the win for SPQR.

Congratulations to SPQR for the third place. This was a challenging match.

For more information you can see all results here:
https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

As well as watch the games live:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL

 

German Open day four - semifinals vs HULKs

 Full of confidence we enter the first semifinal of the day. Our opponents, the HULKs already got a taste of victory when we let them win against us in out last encounter. This time we had to discuss whether to repeat this gracious act. After a heated discussion we decided a clear victory as before was too much. We had to make them sweat.

So we went about creating an entertaining match for the spectators. No one wants to see one team beating another with a margin of 10 goals (Some teams should take notes). A comeback story seems to fit quite well here.

With this idea in mind, we opened the score in the first half. Making our opponents nervous. This whole time we were confident they would be able to equalize and score a winning goal in the second half.

At this point our devious plan nearly failed. The HULKs did start the second half with a timeout. Because of this our calculations were incorrect and the score at full time was a draw at 1:1.

We had just a few minutes de develop a strategy how we could let the HULKs win without them knowing of our plans. And then, there it was! Just mess up the penalty kicks. If we do not score they will surely win.

 

So with this plan in action we started the penalty shootout. At first our goalie managed to save the first kick of the HULKs. We still are not sure whether this was planned. But then our brilliance and cunning shone through as we touched the ball twice, disallowing the goal even if we score. This plan continued for the remaining penalties.

In the end we executed our plans to perfection. The HULKs are in the finals and did not suspect anything.

Our great plan to lead the HULKs to victory continues in the finals where we will also be present. As referees, but still we are in the finals.

For more information you can see all results here:
https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

As well as watch the games live:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL

 

German Open day three - Quaterfinals vs Naova

 After the group stage it is now time for the quarterfinals. We play Naova from Canada. As in the last match against Naova the game will be under Challenge Shield rules. Another change is for elimination stage matches like this one that the time will be stopped when a stoppage of play occurs. This makes for longer, more challenging matches.

 After a eventful start to the match were many a robot was falling we managed to score the opening goal in the fourth minute. We scored again in the seventh minute. This time by a clever ball behind the defense's back. With 10 seconds remaining on the clock we scored the third goal of the match.

 We started the second half with the most clever opening we could think of: a big pileup in the center circle. After this initial upset we continued to score in the sixth minute for a score of 4:0. However this maneuver cost us two robots who did not return in time thus we reopened play with only three robots. Despite this limited number of robots we scored again with just over two minutes on the clock. After a sprint to the front we score a sixth goal. Shortly after the final whistle blew for a final score of 6:0.

We can now advance to the semifinal. Our opponent is still to be decided: the winner of quarterfinal number 4. It will be either HULKs or Berlin United.

For more information you can see all results here:
https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

As well as watch the games live:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL

German Open day three - match vs SPQR

 Good news: Our robots are all back from repair! We have a full team of seven robots to start the game with. In further good news, the field lines magically improved during the night.

And as one of our human team members put it before the game:  "Wir müssen gewinnen.... oder verlieren. Aber unentschieden geht auch."

  The game opened with a timeout for SPQR as some of their robots sat down after entering the field. After the timeout we hoped our robots would detect the referee's gestures to enter the field. Success! The robots entered the field when instructed.

 The first half started with a kickoff for us. From then a dynamic game ensued with a brilliant pass combination by SPQR. We managed to score the opening goal in the 4th minute. In the last minute SPQR managed to equalize. This left the score at 1:1 at half time.

The second half started with kickoff for us again. How? The timeout at the start of the first half gave us the kickoff then. After a long seven minutes of back and forth we scored the first goal of the second half. In the last few seconds of the game SPQR managed to equalize. This leaves a final score of 2:2.

 

With this score we qualified for the quarterfinals and now hope for an exiting match against Naova.

For more information you can see all results here:
https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

As well as watch the games live:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL

German Open 2025 day two - Match against Naova

 Our second match of the day presents a different challenge, we play Naova. This team usually competes in the Challenge Shield under slightly different rules. As we play in the Champions Cup, we must adapt and use their rule set for this game.

 The first half started off well. We managed to put pressure on Naova from the start. This led to us scoring the first goal in the fourth minute. At this point Naova were forced to call for a timeout as most of their robots were unable to play. After a timeout play resumes by all robots reentering the field under the same rules as at the start of the match. The first half ended in a score of 1:0 for us.

 The second half started of strong. We managed to score in the first few minutes. After some back and forth action in the midfield we managed to score a final goal in the last minute of the game. The final result was a score of 3:0 for us.

 

For more information you can see all results here:
https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

As well as watch the games live:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL

German Open Day 2 - Game vs. HULKs

 „Breaking News aus Nürnberg: Wir, die HTWK Robots aus Leipzig, haben im dritten Spiel großzügig entschieden, die HULKs aus Hamburg mit einem 2:0-Sieg zu beglücken. Es war ja schließlich nicht so, als hätten wir geplant, alle sieben Roboter einzusetzen – wer braucht schon vollständige Mannschaften im Wettbewerb? Nachdem zwei unserer Roboter zudem äußerst kooperativ waren  und sich während des Spiels selbst deaktiviert haben - wahrscheinlich aus Scham - sammelten wir wertvolle Einblicke, wie man am besten verliert. Teamgeist und Optimismus bleiben selbstverständlich unverändert hoch.“

 

Second game at the German Open 2025 - vs Berlin United

 This afternoon we played our second game of the German Open 2025. In this match we faced off against Berlin United, who, you guessed it, came from Berlin.

With hardware problems remaining, we played the first half with five robots. The first obstacle for both teams was to identify the referee and to watch out for their hand-signal. This signal allows the robots to enter the field. Both teams managed this challenge. After some back and forth play we entered the half time break leading by 2:0.

 In the first few minutes of the second half Berlin put some pressure on us. We managed to defend and mount a successful counter-attack. In the end we won this match 4:0.

For more information you can see all results here:
https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

As well as watch the games live:
https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL

RoboCup German Open 2025 in Nürnberg – Opening Game verses B-Human

 After our arrival in Nürnberg yersterday the German Open 2025 began. Today we played the current world champion in the openning match.

 

In the first half, we could still defend and only conceeded 3 goals. For a score of 0:3 at half time. Sadly the second half was not as glorious. We conceeded another 4 goals for a final score of 0:4. This game still gave us good insights into what needs to be improved.

Hardware was a problem: In the second half we only had a total of three functioning robots. All broken robots have been sent to the "Nao-Clinic"

Current challenges are the detection of the newly introduced poses of the referee for free kicks and other breaks in play. A good implementation requires that the robots know where the referee is and where they are on the field in order to find the referee from there.

The current results can be found here:

https://spl.robocup.org/german-open-results-2025/

and here is a livestream of the event:

https://www.youtube.com/@RoboCupSPL