During the 2025 European Championship, I had the pleasure of bringing together all the mentors, the competition judge and one of your young executives to discuss the creation of an ENTRY category for Simulation. We all agreed that it would be useful to draw up a set of rules that would simplify the category to allow beginners to take their first steps in this exciting speciality. We drafted a framework containing a number of points to serve as the basis for the new rules. I kindly ask the mentors who participated in Bari, the Simulation managers, the competition judges, and past and future competitors to express their views on this proposal. I would like to remind everyone that ENTRY competitions exist in other categories. I would like to see the methodology used in Soccer adopted, where the Final rules provided useful guidelines for conducting ENTRY competitions. It would be great if this approach were adopted not only in Europe but also in other super-regional competitions.Thank you all in advance.
That would be a great Idea
Yes! As we said in Bari it would be a really good idea.
We are waiting for this, to start to talk about the idea.
First, I think you must share the key features (what we talk about in Bari), and start to discuss about it.
( Tibor Pacsuta from Hungary)
Hi Tibor! This was the introduction of the document we prepared in Bari. For privacy reasons, I am omitting the names and email addresses of the mentors and the executive who participated in the drafting process.
TEXT
During the RCJ European 2025 (Bari, Italy, June 4 to 7) there has been among the Mentors an idea for a proposal of a Rescue Simulation Entry Challenge in order to encourage agonists to perform this SubLeague, eventually for Regional and SuperRegional events.
The main changes could involve the Rules, in particular:
1) No Area 3 and 4
2) No floating walls
3) Only outermost starting tile
4) No letter victims
5) No hazmat signs
6) Colored victims placed on the walls
It was simply a starting point for a broader discussion. The Slovakian executive had contacted me months ago to discuss it, but unfortunately, due to serious family problems, I was unable to follow up on his invitation.
I proposed to the referee in Bari that we start a sort of experiment at the next Italian championship. They will discuss it. The committee for the next European championships should be involved.
(Austrians?)
Furthermore, I do not know if I am violating any code of conduct of the forum, overstepping the authority of the Robocup organisation. If so, I apologise in advance.
Well, I look forward to future developments.
Thank you.
It would be great, rescue simulation Is very hard, the idea to create a simplier competition Is amazing
I think I should keep the floating walls to make the navigation problem a bit more interesting. I would also keep the black holes, swamps, and checkpoints. I wouldn’t require map submission, but I would award extra points for returning to the starting point before sending the exit message. This way, we maintain the image processing challenge (with the colored signs) and the navigation challenge, leaving aside the mapping challenge (although we could also consider a simpler mapping challenge). What do you think?
Hi, gzabala!
The introduction of floating walls would allow race judges to spice up competitions if they notice that the teams are performing at a high level. I agree with the proposal. I also agree with the introduction of exit bonuses, swamps and checkpoints. I would avoid using areas 3 and 4, which are very difficult for beginners to handle. The starting point should be outermost, as in the rescue maze entry. This simplifies the algorithm for returning to the starting tile. What about obstacles? Is it better to avoid them? Or could they be introduced not immediately but in a few years’ time?
Thank you, I look forward to your contributions.
During the most recent Italian national competition held in Catania (Sicily), we mentors discussed the possible developments of a hypothetical Simulation Entry, following the guidelines outlined by Gonzalo Zabala. This was in line with what had already emerged during the last European Championship in Bari. Unfortunately, the Simulation competition will not be taking place this year during the European competition in Vienna, so I will likely not be able to have further face-to-face discussions with the other European mentors. I did, however, wish to highlight the desire of the Italian mentors to organise a competition that includes, in addition to the ‘standard’ category (which is growing in terms of team numbers, at least in Italy), the Simulation Entry as well. First, however, we must duly and rightly await the guidance from the rescue committee. The enthusiasm and interest are there because we are aware that the ‘entry’ category could serve as an excellent springboard for the ‘standard’ competition, allowing us, in our view, to increase the number of competing teams. There is a need for this. I would like to thank in advance anyone who wishes to contribute to the discussion.
This is excellent news, and I will put forth my utmost effort to make it happen! I will share this message with the relevant committee (there is a committee specifically for entry-level participants) and make myself available to help draft the rules and the corresponding version of Erebus.
Thank you so much. I’ll follow the development of the debate.