Held at the National Speed Skating Oval, a venue built for the 2022 Winter Olympics, the competition features both traditional sports and practical challenges.
While some robots displayed impressive agility such as domestic champion Unitree’s humanoids dominating the 1500-metre race others provided comic relief with frequent tumbles, scrums, and stumbles, especially during five-a-side football.
Despite the spectacle, robot performance still trails far behind human records. The fastest 1500-metre time observed was 6:29:37, well above the men’s world record of 3:26:00.
In one incident, a robot collided with a human operator, toppling the person but remaining upright itself.
Organisers say the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first global competition devoted entirely to human-like robots.
Beijing has prioritised humanoid robotics in its national strategy, investing heavily to position China as a leader in the sector.
In March, the government announced a one-trillion-yuan fund for tech startups, including robotics and AI, and earlier this year hosted the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon.
The event has also become an educational opportunity, with schools arranging trips to inspire young students.
Spectators like 18-year-old Chen Ruiyuan, who plans to study automation, said the games fuel his passion, especially the boxing contests, which showcase agility and technological improvement.
While not all robots stayed on their feet one Transformer-like competitor fell during a kung fu routine and spun helplessly on the floor the crowd embraced the mix of competition and entertainment, cheering every move.
AFP
Advertisement
