Category Archives: ER-Force

German Open: Review

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Now that the German Open, the second April tournament, has come to an end, we would like to take a brief look back at the event.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t win a trophy at this tournament either, but we gained valuable insights into our system and were able to significantly improve it towards the end. We started the tournament on Wednesday with completely new motor drivers and the associated problems, but we gradually got a handle on them.

It’s a pity that our last game on Saturday against TIGERs Mannheim was just a friendly match: If we had performed the same way the day before against Immortals, the tournament might have ended quite differently. But no matter: With the experiences and measurement data we were able to collect from this tournament, we can now enter RoboCup 2024 stronger and hopefully win big prizes there.

But the tournament was not only valuable for us: TIGERs Mannheim, Immortals, and Tritons also surely gained valuable insights. It’s a shame that Tritons couldn’t play in the end. It seems there is still some work to be done before real games can be played. All the more helpful that they had many opportunities at the German Open to exchange ideas with our team members and those of TIGERs and gather helpful input on how to solve the upcoming problems.

And finally, the tournament also seemed to be well received by the spectators: On the final day, the field was surrounded by visitors during both our friendly match and the final, eagerly following the game’s progress. Time and again, some children started chanting “ER-Force” – to such an extent that we had to assure TIGERs that we had not paid any of the spectators to be our cheering squad.

So we leave Kassel with the firm hope of being able to visit again next year when it’s time for RoboCup German Open 2025!

German Open: Friendly: ER-Force vs. TIGERs Mannheim

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Although we weren’t supposed to have another game today since Tritons unfortunately can’t compete in the small final (they aren’t even in the hall anymore), we are playing a friendly match against TIGERs Mannheim.

As always, the game can be watched on the livestream from TIGERs Mannheim:

This game has a special feature: TIGERs will always play with the same number of robots as we have on the field. This has already led them to take one robot off the field before the game started.

First Half

05:00 The game begins: ER-Force is playing in yellow, TIGERs in blue.
04:06 With a few outbursts, we are actually playing quite well and even have a few shots on goal now and then.
04:06 At some point, there was probably a goal, but none of us noticed. We trust TIGERs on this one, so: Goal for TIGERs.
ER-Force 0 : 1 TIGERs Mannheim
03:36 After heated duels in our half, our robot seems to lose interest and kicks the ball mercilessly out of the field.
03:21 The duels continue in our half. Eventually, TIGERs manage to score.
ER-Force 0 : 2 TIGERs Mannheim
03:02 Still some nice scenes from our robots and occasionally a shot on goal. Definitely a much better performance than the last two days.
02:01 Again, some nice game situations for both sides. Overall, the game is quite fluid, and there are some nice long passes from both teams across the field. A very lively and balanced game.
00:34 The stream of this game is really recommended. We no longer give Mannheim any gaps or breaks; our goal is currently secure.
-00:29 The last minute has been dangerously long in our half, and there have been some scary moments. But the first half ends without another goal, our defense still holds.

Second Half

05:00 And the second half begins.
04:28 Again, the ball is in our half for a long time, and our goalkeeper is intensely arguing with one of our field players. Moreover, he simply doesn’t kick the ball away. And so it happens: Goal for Mannheim!
ER-Force 0 : 3 TIGERs Mannheim
04:02 OK, that was unfortunate: For some reason, our communication didn’t work, maybe someone bumped into it. As a result, our robots just stood still, and TIGERs could shoot into the undefended goal.
ER-Force 0 : 4 TIGERs Mannheim
02:50 Now the game is playing a bit more in the Mannheim half. Let’s see if we can score a goal against the world champion.
01:24 An extremely long game in midfield and the TIGERs’ half. Our robots keep trying for the goal, but they just can’t get past the defense and the goalkeeper.
00:59 That was close! A short duel near our goal, then the shot, but just missed! The score remains unchanged.
00:52 But now, unfortunately, it happened: Still dueling in our half, but our robots sometimes just don’t shoot. Probably the light barrier doesn’t recognize the ball. Be that as it may: Goal for TIGERs.
ER-Force 0 : 5 TIGERs Mannheim
00:34 And timeout for us: The AI is set to aggressive.
00:09 That’s the disadvantage of Main Aggressive: When the ball comes into our half, there are no defenders left. And so another goal is scored against us. But what the heck: It was still worth it.
ER-Force 0 : 6 TIGERs Mannheim
00:00 And so the game unfortunately ends goalless for us. But still, it was a very nice culmination for the tournament: Eight of our robots were on the field and could play for an entire half. Even our Victory Move was not prepared for that; it apparently can’t handle so many robots. So we let TIGERs have their Victory Moves. For now.

German Open: ER-Force vs. Immortals

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After we unfortunately lost our last group match against TIGERs Mannheim this morning at 11:30 AM with a score of 10:00, we now move on to the first semifinal match of the tournament against Immortals at 4:00 PM. The winner of this match will play in the Grand Final tomorrow at 2:00 PM against the winner of the second semifinal match today at 5:30 PM. The losers will play in the small final tomorrow at 12:30 PM.

Since yesterday’s match against Immortals ended with only a one-goal lead for them, we have a realistic chance of taking the win in this game. If we lose, there is also the possibility that we won’t play in this tournament anymore, as Tritons have not yet played a game and the small final tomorrow may be canceled as a result.

First Half

05:00 Both Immortals and our team are getting ready for the match. It will probably start in a few minutes. ER-Force is playing in yellow, Immortals in blue.
05:00 With a four-minute delay, the game starts with a kickoff by us. Once again, our robot doesn’t shoot, so after five minutes, the ball is released for all players. The ball ends up out of bounds.
04:40 The corner is actually dangerous for us, but our goalkeeper can defuse the situation.
04:05 Another dangerous throw-in by Immortals, but the pass goes past its receiver and directly out of bounds.
03:57 But now it happens: Immortals play the ball across our penalty area to a teammate on the other side, who doesn’t hesitate and shoots past our goalkeeper into the goal!
ER-Force 0 : 1 Immortals
03:50 This time it’s a chip goal by Immortals, but it doesn’t count, as the ball must not exceed 15 cm in height when shooting at goal.
03:15 The game continues to take place only in our half. A dangerous ball towards our penalty area is cleared by one of our robots, although out of bounds, which is a foul.
02:30 After some skirmishing, the ball is shot at our goal again, but so weakly that it poses no real threat to our goalkeeper.
01:47 Finally, an attack by us. But with only 3 robots in play, the attack fizzles out. It’s hard to mount a successful attack with just one striker.
01:39 And here comes the counter: During a nice attack by Immortals, their robot manages to shoot past our goalkeeper into the goal.
ER-Force 0 : 2 Immortals
00:41 There are several attacks on our goal, but our goalkeeper successfully defends multiple times.
00:37 What looks like a goal against us is fortunately a double touch by Immortals. Lucky for us, the score remains unchanged.
00:00 With two goals for Immortals, we go into halftime.

Second Half

05:00 With four robots for us and five for Immortals, the second half begins. At least this time we managed the kickoff successfully.
04:51 And already we are down to three robots. Our new motor drivers tend to get very hot and often need a short cooldown.
04:02 Actually, some really nice moments for our team. But unfortunately, our attacker lacks the passing options for his attacks, so the attack fizzles out into a sideline out.
03:30 With a fourth robot in play, our attacks and their dangers slowly increase, but unfortunately, no goal has been scored yet. The game is now visibly taking place in Immortals’ half.
02:51 The first time we seriously had a shot on goal. Unfortunately, it was a bit too obvious, so it didn’t go in.
02:38 A quick timeout by us to test a robot. After the test results are acceptable, it is promptly put in, giving us five robots again.
01:54 That was lucky! Immortals score a goal against us, but they also commit a foul by having a robot in our penalty area. Thus, the goal doesn’t count.
01:11 We have to substitute a robot again. Since this is now the sixth time this half, we receive a yellow card as only five substitutions per half are allowed.
01:02 The ball looked dangerous right from the kick-off, and it proved to be: Another goal by Immortals against us!
ER-Force 0 : 3 Immortals
00:00 Thus, the game ends with Immortals winning 3:0.

German Open 2024

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Less than two weeks after our last tournament in Crailsheim, our team heads straight to Kassel for the GermanOpen 2024. This is the first time in years that the tournament is being held with major leagues like ours, after having been exclusively for the junior leagues in the past. Our last participation in the German Open in 2016 was also the last time this tournament was offered for our SSL league.

The tournament itself runs from this Thursday through Sunday, with the group stage taking place on Thursday and Friday, followed by the knockout games and finals on Saturday. The schedule can be viewed at this link. A permanent livestream can be found on the YouTube page of the TIGERs Mannheim.

Participants in this tournament, besides us, include the TIGERs Mannheim, who are again favorites for the title as they were at the Crailsheim tournament, the German team Immortals, and the young American team Tritons. We are particularly curious about the latter team’s performance, as their qualification video for the RoboCup did not give the impression that their robots could even drive.

RoboCup Crailsheim: luhbots vs RoboTeam Twente

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The first match of the final day of RoboCup Crailsheim takes place between the third and fourth place teams from the group stage. The winner of this match will be our next opponent in the 1 PM game, as we positioned ourselves in second place during the group stage.

First Half

02:49 Twente takes a timeout.
02:49 Twente ends the timeout, but before the game can resume, a Twente bot spins wildly in circles.
02:07 Twente makes a bot substitution, and luhbots receive a yellow card for ball placement interference.
02:00 Twente plays the ball out of bounds, but luhbots fail at their ball placement, giving Twente a dangerous free kick.
01:29 luhbots shoot at the goal, but the Twente goalkeeper skillfully saves the ball. Both teams have had dangerous situations so far.
01:00 Twente holds the ball too long in their penalty area, giving luhbots a free kick which they convert into a goal. It’s 1:0 for luhbots.
00:15 luhbots commit a bot crash.
00:12 Out by Twente at their own goal line. luhbots get a corner.

Second Half

04:15 luhbots chip the ball over the boundary into the audience during their own ball placement.
04:10 Twente takes their second timeout and ends it again after about 10 seconds.
04:04 Twente makes a robot substitution and takes a robot off the field.
03:31 Twente holds the ball too long in the penalty area. luhbots get a free kick but fail at their ball placement, so the free kick goes to Twente.
03:25 A robot hits the already weakened goal wall of Twente, causing it to come loose. It is provisionally repaired while Twente makes another robot substitution.
02:52 Twente narrowly misses the luhbots’ goal.
01:07 luhbots score their second goal. It’s 2:0 for luhbots.
00:57 luhbots take the ball from Twente shortly after their kickoff and immediately score another goal.
00:34 Twente again takes too long to play the ball out of their penalty area, giving luhbots a dangerous free kick. They fail at the ball placement again, so the free kick goes to Twente.
00:01 luhbots hold the ball too long in the penalty area this time, and Twente converts the free kick directly into a goal to at least bring the score to 3:1, showing they won’t go down without a fight, although it doesn’t change luhbots’ victory.

Note: The above information is based on the public communication of the organizer. Our club is not the organizer of the tournament and therefore cannot independently verify the information.