China Showcases AI Advancement with Autonomous Humanoid Robot Soccer Tournament

China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts

BEIJING (AP) -- While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said. "For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe." Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies -- including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5-3 to win the championship. Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. "They (THU) did really well," he said. "But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises." China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Autonomous humanoid robot teams compete in China's soccer tournament

Equipped with optical cameras and sensors, the robots detected the ball up to 65 feet (20 meters) away with over 90 percent accuracy, and identified play elements like field lines, goals, teammates, and opponents, as per an earlier report by the New York Post. "This is the first fully autonomous AI robot football match in China. It represents a combination of technological innovation and industrial application," Dou Jing, executive director of the tournament organizing committee and deputy general manager of Shangyicheng (Beijing) Technology and Culture Group, told Global Times. He further added that the event presented an important opportunity to bring robots into public life and real-world scenarios. According to the Global Times report, the humanoid robots participating in the matches faced some limitations such as dynamic obstacle avoidance. This led to a rule change by organizers, allowing some non-malicious collisions to go unpunished. One of the co-organizers of the event told Global Times that they plan to expand the number of sports played by humanoid robots by introducing more such intellectual properties (IP) in future. He also said that the level of soccer in this competition was similar to the game played by five or six-year-old kids. However, he hoped that the level will gradually improve with time and technology.

China: Humanoid robots to dribble, score goals in 3-on-3 soccer game

With no human intervention, these autonomous machines will compete in two 10-minute halves, marking what's believed to be the first fully robotic 3-on-3 soccer game, according to Chinese media outlets. The event also serves as a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, with four Chinese teams advancing through earlier qualifiers to secure their place in the finals. The event pits four Chinese teams -- from top institutions such as Tsinghua University and Beijing Information Science and Technology University -- against each other in a test of agility, strategy, and endurance hosted entirely by artificial intelligence. Each team fields three players plus one substitute, with the contest divided into two 10‑minute halves and a 5‑minute intermission. During a match, the robots walk (albeit with a slight wobble), run, kick, chase the ball, and make split‑second decisions -- all without human controllers, according to Bastille Post Global (BPG). Key to their performance is a sophisticated sensory and vision system. Equipped with optical cameras and sensors, the robots detect the white ball up to 65 feet (20 meters) away with over 90 percent accuracy, and identify play elements like field lines, goals, teammates, and opponents, according to the New York Post (NYP).

China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts

While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility. They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said. "For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe." Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies -- including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5-3 to win the championship. Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. "They (THU) did really well," he said. "But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises." China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next year's competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States. © 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

A bumbling game of robot soccer was a breakthrough for embodied AI

Teams using autonomous T1 robots from Booster Robotics compete in the inaugural RoBoLeague robot soccer competition held in Beijing, Saturday.Ng Han Guan / AP Humanoid robots waddled, stumbled, and occasionally face-planted their way through a 3-against-3 soccer tournament in Beijing on Saturday that looked more like the first day of little league than the rise of a robotic Lionel Messi. Pile-ups were frequent as players toppled over each other in slow-motion collisions, goals were left open, and defending appeared optional. Some robots hogged the ball, others struggled to stay upright, and two or three had to be loaded onto a stretcher and carried off the field. While the play was absurd, the tech powering it was anything but. Each team operated fully autonomously, driven by AI, with no human intervention or supervision -- an impressive breakthrough somewhat masked by the slapstick spectacle playing out on the field. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the child-sized robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with some halting agility. They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling, though some did require the help of biological humans, including one who was dragged off the field after tipping over near the goal. And beneath the bloopers is a country investing tens of billions of dollars and racing to extend its lead in the field of next-gen robotics. China's robotics market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 23%, reaching $108 billion by 2028 -- up from the $47 billion it currently invests, according to research published by Morgan Stanley. By 2050, China is expected to have 302.3 million humanoid robots in use, far ahead of the U.S. at 77.7 million, added the report, noting these would likely be used for "repetitive, simple, and structured work," like in factories. "It is becoming apparent that national support for 'embodied AI' may be far greater in China than in any other nation, driving continued innovation," said Sheng Zhong, Morgan Stanley's Head of Industrials Research. "In our opinion, China's lead in AI-robotics may need to widen before rivals, including the U.S., pay closer attention." Sport is becoming a key part of China's push as a proving ground for the tech. In April, A total of 21 humanoid robots recently competed alongside humans in a half-marathon in Beijing, though only six managed to finish. Saturday's soccer match also served as a preview for the upcoming 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, which China will host in Beijing from August 15-17. The event will feature 11 robot sports, including gymnastics, track and field, and football. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics -- the company that supplied the robot players at Saturday's soccer tournament -- said that sports competitions are a testing ground for humanoid robots. Their successes and stumbles on the field help accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also explained that safety is a core concern about humanoid robots. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said, referring to a perceived risk that a heavy robot could fall on and injure a human athlete, for example. "A robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe," he said. Ironically, China's humanoids may be more entertaining than their human counterparts. With the men's national team languishing at 94th in the FIFA rankings and likely to miss out on the next World Cup, the robots at least know how to put on a show -- and score. In the final, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team 5-3 to take the championship. No shortage of goals, and no complaints from the cheering crowd.

China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts

BEIJING (AP) -- While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said. "For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe." Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies -- including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5-3 to win the championship. Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. "They (THU) did really well," he said. "But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises." China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts

BEIJING -- While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said. "For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe." Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies -- including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5-3 to win the championship. Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. "They (THU) did really well," he said. "But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises." China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

China's humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than human counterparts - The Economic Times

While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown. Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organisers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasised safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said. "For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe." Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school's research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies-including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5-3 to win the championship. Mr. Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. "They (THU) did really well," he said. "But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises." China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Humanoid robots guided by AI set to compete in first 3-on-3 soccer...

Soccer is getting a high-tech upgrade in Beijing this weekend, and the players aren't just fast -- they're fully robotic. The RoBoLeague World Robot Soccer League will host its final match in the city's Yizhuang Development Zone on Saturday, where teams of humanoid robots will go head-to-head in a 3-on-3 soccer game in which the players are completely controlled by artificial intelligence. This competition, which is believed to be the first-ever 3-on-3 match between robots, is a preview for next year's World Humanoid Robot Games, and four Chinese teams made up of robot players have earned their spots in the finals after a series of qualifiers. The robots, which won't have any human assistance, will play two 10-minute halves, with a 5-minute break. During a Thursday training session, teams from Tsinghua University and Beijing Information Science and Technology University showed off their robot players. The machines may walk a little awkwardly, but they can run, kick, and chase the ball -- all on their own. "The World Robot Soccer League will be the first test competition for the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games and China's first-ever 3-versus-3 AI humanoid robot football match as well, which will put the participating robots' endurance and agility to the test," Dou Jing, one of the event organizers, told China Central Television (CCTV). How do the robots know where to go? Each one is equipped with cameras and sensors that allow it to "see" the field and figure out where the ball is. "At present, all the visual recognition and positioning abilities of the robot are accomplished through optical cameras," explained Wang Yonghao, who is in charge of the competition's operations. "For instance, during the football match, it needs to first identify a white, round ball, or an object of a similar size. Then we make sure that the color white or any other similar color will not appear on the robots' feet, on the body of the on-site staff and referees, including their shoes or other objects on them," he told CCTV. The robots have been trained with deep reinforcement learning -- a type of artificial intelligence that helps them learn through trial and error. "The robot should be able to see the football nearly 20 meters away at an accuracy rate of over 90 percent," said Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics. "First, it should be able to tell what or where the ball, the goal, or the pitch is, and afterward it needs to make decisions about the role it is going to play based on all these inputs." The machine would then need to either advance the ball to a teammate or kick it toward the net to score a goal. "All these are the technological challenges we aim to address at the moment. Of course, as the technology evolves, all these capabilities can be achieved for the robot now," Cheng said. Saturday's game is just the beginning. Beijing will host the full World Humanoid Robot Games from August 15 to 17 as part of the World Robot Conference -- the first global sporting event where every competitor is built, not born.