Beijing Hosts Inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games: Showcasing AI Progress Amid Challenges

Beijing's 'Robot Olympics' Are Off and Running (and Falling)

With more than a decade of experience, Nelson covers Apple and Google and writes about iPhone and Android features, privacy and security settings, and more. China just turned a pair of Olympic venues into a playground for robots. The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games, running from Aug. 15-17, opened Friday with soccer, sprints, kickboxing and table tennis, as well as a healthy number of face-plants. The games feature 280 robot teams from 16 countries and hundreds of bipedal bots vying for medals and whatever passes for bragging rights to robots. Events are split between two 2022 Winter Olympics landmarks: China's National Stadium and the National Speed Skating Oval. On the schedule: track and field, football (soccer to Americans), table tennis, and "scenario" trials such as medicine sorting, cleaning services and industrial handling -- the kind of practical skills that robot-makers actually care about. The highlight reel revealed more chaos than control: robots colliding mid-match, sprinters crumpling mid-stride and kickboxers needing a reboot. But there were bright spots, too. Some bots popped back to their feet unassisted and even finished middle-distance runs as handlers puffed behind them. There was even a 1,500-meter race. Tickets ran 128-580 yuan (about $18-$81). The robot athletes are supplied by a combination of academia and industry, including China's Unitree and Fourier, with squads also from the US, Germany, Brazil, Japan and more. Organizers pitch the weekend as data collection under pressure, with sports forcing the robots to demonstrate balance, vision and decision-making, all of which later will translate over to the robot's work in factories, logistics and as home helpers. China is using the Games to showcase its bet on embodied AI -- software linked to machines that can navigate human spaces. The country has poured billions of dollars into robotics and is planning a 1-trillion-yuan ( about $137 billion) fund for startups as part of a push to counter an aging-workforce crunch and compete in advanced manufacturing. Rules vary by event, but organizers say competitions span autonomous control and remote operation: either way, no mid-match "player swaps" for fresh robots are allowed. That means lots of stress testing on robot batteries, heat management and recovery behaviors in real-time chaos. The Associated Press has streamed some of the Games if you want to check it out.

China's 'robot Olympics' sees humanoids from 16 nations compete in table tennis, football, track

BEIJING, Aug 15 (Reuters) - China kicked off a three-day long sports showcase for humanoid robots on Friday, looking to highlight progress in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries competing in the World Humanoid Robot Games. Robots will compete in sports such as football, track and field, and table tennis, as well as tackle robot-specific challenges from sorting medicines and handling materials to cleaning services. Teams come from countries including the United States, Germany, and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private enterprises. Robots from Chinese companies including Unitree and Fourier are among those competing. The Beijing municipal government is among the organising bodies for the event, underscoring the emphasis Chinese authorities place on the emerging robotics industry and reflecting the country's broader ambitions in AI and automation. The China's robotics push also comes as the country grapples with an ageing population and slowing economic growth. The sector has received government subsidies exceeding $20 billion over the past year, while Beijing plans to establish a one trillion yuan ($137 billion) fund to support AI and robotics startups. China has staged a series of high-profile robotics events in recent months, including what it called the world's first humanoid robot marathon in Beijing, a robot conference and the opening of retail stores dedicated to humanoid robots. However, the marathon drew criticism after several robot competitors emitted smoke during the race and some failed to complete the course, raising questions about the current capabilities of the technology. Still, while some may view such competitions and events as publicity stunts, industry experts and participants see them as crucial catalysts for advancing humanoid robots toward practical real-world applications. Morgan Stanley analysts in a report last week noted a surge in attendance to a recent robot conference from the general public compared to previous years, saying this showed "how China, not just top government officials, has embraced the concept of embodied intelligence." "We believe this widespread interest could be instrumental for China's continued leadership in the humanoid race, providing the necessary talent, resources, and customers to boost industry development and long-term adoption," they said. Booster Robotics, whose humanoid robots are being used by a Tsinghua University team in the football competition, views soccer as an effective test of perception, decision-making and control technologies that could later be deployed in factories or homes. "Playing football is a testing and training ground for helping us refine our capabilities," said Zhao Mingguo, Chief Scientist at Booster Robotics. Reporting by Liam Mo and Brenda Goh; Editing by Michael Perry Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Sports Brenda Goh Thomson Reuters Brenda Goh is Reuters' Shanghai bureau chief and oversees coverage of corporates in China. Brenda joined Reuters as a trainee in London in 2010 and has reported stories from over a dozen countries.

Robots race, play football, crash and collapse at China's 'robot Olympics'

BEIJING, Aug 15 (Reuters) - China kicked off the three-day long World Humanoid Robot Games on Friday, looking to showcase its advances in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries. Robots competed in sports such as track and field, and table tennis, as well as tackled robot-specific challenges from sorting medicines and handling materials to cleaning services. Teams came from countries including the United States, Germany and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private enterprises such as China's Unitree and Fourier Intelligence. Competing teams used robots from Chinese manufacturers such as Booster Robotics. "We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research," said Max Polter, a member of HTWK Robots football team from Germany, affiliated with Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. "You can test a lot of interesting new and exciting approaches in this contest. If we try something and it doesn't work, we lose the game. That's sad but it is better than investing a lot of money into a product which failed." At the robot games in Beijing, which charged 128 to 580 yuan ($17.83-$80.77) for tickets, humanoids crashed into each other and toppled over repeatedly during football matches, while others collapsed mid-sprint during running events. During one football match, four robots crashed into each other and fell in a tangled heap. In the 1500-metre running event, one robot suddenly collapsed while running at full speed, drawing gasps and cheers from spectators. Despite frequent tumbles requiring human assistance to help robots stand, many managed to right themselves independently, earning applause from audiences. Organisers said the games provide valuable data collection opportunities for developing robots for practical applications such as factory work. Football matches help train robots' coordination abilities, which could prove useful for assembly line operations requiring collaboration between multiple units, commentators said. China is investing billions of dollars in humanoids and robotics as the country grapples with an ageing population and growing competition with the U.S. over advanced technologies. It has staged a series of high-profile robotics events in recent months, including what it called the world's first humanoid robot marathon in Beijing, a robot conference and the opening of retail stores dedicated to humanoid robots. Morgan Stanley analysts in a report last week noted a surge in attendance to a recent robot conference from the general public compared to previous years, saying this showed "how China, not just top government officials, has embraced the concept of embodied intelligence." ($1 = 7.1805 Chinese yuan renminbi) Reporting by Liam Mo and Brenda Goh; Editing by Michael Perry Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Sports Brenda Goh Thomson Reuters Brenda Goh is Reuters' Shanghai bureau chief and oversees coverage of corporates in China. Brenda joined Reuters as a trainee in London in 2010 and has reported stories from over a dozen countries.

Photos of Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games show how a human touch is still needed

BEIJING (AP) -- Humanoid robots raced and punched their way through three days of a multi-sport competition at the World Humanoid Robot Games, wrapping up Sunday in Beijing. But they also toppled, crashed and collapsed, requiring humans' help and leading to questions about how far, after all, the robots can go on their own. The games featured more than 500 humanoids on 280 teams from 16 countries, including the United States, Germany and Japan, that competed in sports such as soccer, running and boxing at the 12,000-seater National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The event comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. Robots were often seen close to their operators, whether they were controlled remotely, held, lifted, sorted or separated. Batteries needed replacing and limbs tuned. Although the robots showed off some impressive moves, some tripped and human intervention was never far from the field. One had to be carried out by two people, like an injured athlete, in a display of the limitations the machines are still facing. Their effect on the audience, however, was not unlike that of real athletes. Cheers erupted when a robot landed a punch, scored a goal, or won a game, showing that viewers were genuinely invested in the machines' endeavors. AI-powered robots are expected to be increasingly used in industrial settings.

Beijing's first World Humanoid Robot Games opens with street dance, martial arts and music

BEIJING (AP) -- Humanoid robots hip-hop danced, performed martial arts and played keyboard, guitar and drums at the opening ceremony of the first World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Thursday evening. The competition begins Friday with more than 500 humanoid robots in 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany and Japan, competing in sports including soccer, running and boxing. It comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. During the opening ceremony, the robots demonstrated soccer and boxing among other sports, with some cheering and backflipping as if at a real sports day. One robot soccer player scored a goal after a few tries, causing the goalkeeper to fall to the ground. Another player fell but stood up unassisted. The robots also modeled fashionable hats and clothes alongside human models. One robot model sadly fell and had to be carried off the stage by two human beings. Teams from robot companies and Chinese universities including Tsinghua University and Peking University are competing in the games. Three middle schools are also participating. China's official newspaper People's Daily quoted a government officer in Beijing as saying "every robot participates is creating history." The event will last three days, concluding on Sunday. Tickets sold to the public range from 180 yuan ($25) to 580 ($80). ___ Fu Ting reported from Washington.

World's first humanoid robot games begin in China

Beijing (AFP) - The world's first-ever humanoid robot games began Friday in Beijing, with over 500 androids alternating between jerky tumbles and glimpses of real power as they compete in events from the 100-metre hurdles to kung fu. Hundreds of robotics teams from 16 countries are going for gold at the Chinese capital's National Speed Skating Oval, built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The games include traditional sports like athletics and basketball, as well as practical tasks such as medicine categorisation and cleaning. "I believe in the next 10 years or so, robots will be basically at the same level as humans," enthusiastic 18-year-old spectator Chen Ruiyuan told AFP. Human athletes might not be quaking in their boots just yet. At one of the first events on Friday morning, five-aside football, 10 robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch, often getting stuck in a scrum or falling over en masse. However, in a 1500-metre race, domestic champion Unitree's humanoids stomped along the track at an impressive clip, easily outpacing their rivals. The fastest robot AFP witnessed finished in 6:29:37, a far cry from the human men's world record of 3:26:00. One mechanical racer barrelled straight into a human operator. The robot remained standing, while the human was knocked flat, though did not appear to be injured. 'National strategy' Robot competitions have been held for decades, but the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first to focus specifically on robots that resemble human bodies, organisers said. The Chinese government has poured support into robotics hoping to lead the industry. Beijing has put humanoids in the "centre of their national strategy", the International Federation of Robotics wrote in a paper on Thursday. "The government wants to showcase its competence and global competitiveness in this field of technology," it added. Authorities are working to raise awareness of the sector across society. Cui Han, accompanying her 10-year-old, told AFP that her son's school had organised and paid for the trip to the Games. "I hope it will encourage him to learn more about these new technologies," she said. In March, China announced plans for a one-trillion-yuan fund to support technology startups, including those in robotics and AI. The country is already the world's largest market for industrial robots, official statistics show, and in April, Beijing held what organisers dubbed the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon. Chen, the spectator, told AFP he was about to begin studying automation at university. "Coming here can cultivate my passion for this field," he said. "My favourite is the boxing, because... it requires a lot of agility and I can really see how the robots have improved from before." Meanwhile, at the kung fu competition area, a pint-sized robot resembling one from the popular Transformer series attempted to execute a move, but fell flat on its front. It spun around on the floor as it struggled to get back up, the crowd happily cheering.

Beijing's first World Humanoid Robot Games open with hip-hop and martial arts

Humanoid robots danced hip-hop, performed martial arts and played keyboard, guitar and drums at the opening ceremony of the first World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Thursday evening. The competition begins Friday with more than 500 humanoid robots in 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany and Japan, competing in sports including soccer, running and boxing. The event comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. France24 correspondent in Beijing, Yena Lee, reports.

Beijing's first World Humanoid Robot Games opens with street dance, martial arts and music

Humanoid robots hip-hop danced, performed martial arts and played keyboard, guitar and drums at the opening ceremony of the first World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Thursday evening. The competition begins Friday with more than 500 humanoid robots in 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany and Japan, competing in sports including soccer, running and boxing. It comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. During the opening ceremony, the robots demonstrated soccer and boxing among other sports, with some cheering and backflipping as if at a real sports day. One robot soccer player scored a goal after a few tries, causing the goalkeeper to fall to the ground. Another player fell but stood up unassisted. The robots also modeled fashionable hats and clothes alongside human models. One robot model sadly fell and had to be carried off the stage by two human beings. Teams from robot companies and Chinese universities including Tsinghua University and Peking University are competing in the games. Three middle schools are also participating. China's official newspaper People's Daily quoted a government officer in Beijing as saying "every robot participates is creating history." The event will last three days, concluding on Sunday. Tickets sold to the public range from 180 yuan ($25) to 580 ($80). ___ Olivia Zhang contributed to this report from Beijing.

Beijing's first World Humanoid Robot Games opens with street dance, martial arts and music

BEIJING -- Humanoid robots hip-hop danced, performed martial arts and played keyboard, guitar and drums at the opening ceremony of the first World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Thursday evening. The competition begins Friday with more than 500 humanoid robots in 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany and Japan, competing in sports including soccer, running and boxing. It comes as China has stepped up efforts to develop humanoid robots powered by artificial intelligence. During the opening ceremony, the robots demonstrated soccer and boxing among other sports, with some cheering and backflipping as if at a real sports day. One robot soccer player scored a goal after a few tries, causing the goalkeeper to fall to the ground. Another player fell but stood up unassisted. The robots also modeled fashionable hats and clothes alongside human models. One robot model sadly fell and had to be carried off the stage by two human beings. Teams from robot companies and Chinese universities including Tsinghua University and Peking University are competing in the games. Three middle schools are also participating. China's official newspaper People's Daily quoted a government officer in Beijing as saying "every robot participates is creating history." The event will last three days, concluding on Sunday. Tickets sold to the public range from 180 yuan ($25) to 580 ($80).

China's Humanoid Robot Games Make History with 500 Robots From 16 Countries

Over 500 Robots from 16 Countries Compete in Beijing's First Humanoid Games with 26 Unique Events The first Humanoid Robot Games have started in Beijing, bringing together the latest in robotics and artificial intelligence. The three-day event is taking place at the National Speed Skating Oval, a venue built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Over 500 humanoid robots, split into 280 teams from 16 countries, are competing in 26 events. Teams from the US, Germany, Japan, Italy, and China are all part of the contest. The events are not just about sports like running, football, and boxing. Robots are also taking part in skill-based challenges such as sorting medicines, cleaning, and handling materials.

Humanoid machine face-plants at China's inaugural 'robot Olympics'

A robot drew cheers from the packed crowd at China's inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games -- until it spectacularly face-planted and had to be hauled off stage by two real people. The pratfall during Thursday's opening ceremony in Beijing offered a fitting window into the limitations of the machines during the three-day showcase of robotic ambition. More than 500 humanoid robots from 280 teams across 16 countries gathered to compete in everything from soccer to sprinting, with mixed results. Teams from the United States, Germany, Japan and Brazil brought their mechanical athletes to compete alongside Chinese universities including Tsinghua and Peking, plus three ambitious middle schools. But the robots had other plans. During soccer matches, four mechanical players crashed into each other and collapsed in a tangled heap of metal limbs. In the 1,500-meter dash, one sprinting robot suddenly toppled mid-stride at full speed, drawing gasps and unexpected cheers from the crowd, who paid between $25-$80 to witness the future of artificial intelligence. "We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research," said Max Polter from Germany's HTWK Robots football team, affiliated with Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. "You can test a lot of interesting new and exciting approaches in this contest. If we try something and it doesn't work, we lose the game. That's sad but it is better than investing a lot of money into a product which failed." The opening ceremony mixed genuine technological achievement with comedic mishaps. Robots danced to hip-hop music, performed martial arts and played musical instruments including keyboards, guitars and drums. Some executed backflips and celebratory cheers like real athletes, while others demonstrated soccer skills and boxing moves. One robotic soccer player managed to score a goal after several attempts, causing the humanoid goalkeeper to dramatically fall to the ground in apparent despair. Another player tumbled but impressively stood up without human assistance, earning applause from spectators. Despite frequent falls requiring human helpers to right the toppled machines, many robots demonstrated the ability to recover independently. Organizers emphasized that these public failures provide valuable data for developing practical applications in factories and assembly lines. Soccer matches help train coordination abilities that could prove useful for collaborative manufacturing operations requiring multiple robotic units to work together, commentators explained. China is pouring billions into humanoid robotics as the nation confronts an aging population and escalating technological competition with the United States. The country has staged multiple high-profile robotics events recently, including what it claimed was the world's first humanoid robot marathon and the opening of retail stores dedicated to mechanical workers. Morgan Stanley analysts noted a surge in public attendance at recent robot conferences compared to previous years, suggesting widespread Chinese embrace of what experts call "embodied intelligence." A government official quoted in the state-run People's Daily declared that every participating robot "is creating history" during the event. Whether that history involves graceful athletic achievement or spectacular mechanical failures remains to be seen.

Robots race, play football, crash and collapse at China's 'robot Olympics' - VnExpress International

China kicked off the three-day long World Humanoid Robot Games on Friday, looking to showcase its advances in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries. Robots competed in sports such as track and field, and table tennis, as well as tackled robot-specific challenges from sorting medicines and handling materials to cleaning services. Teams came from countries including the United States, Germany and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private enterprises such as China's Unitree and Fourier Intelligence. Competing teams used robots from Chinese manufacturers such as Booster Robotics. "We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research," said Max Polter, a member of HTWK Robots football team from Germany, affiliated with Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. "You can test a lot of interesting new and exciting approaches in this contest. If we try something and it doesn't work, we lose the game. That's sad but it is better than investing a lot of money into a product which failed." At the robot games in Beijing, which charged 128 to 580 yuan (US$17.83-$80.77) for tickets, humanoids crashed into each other and toppled over repeatedly during football matches, while others collapsed mid-sprint during running events. During one football match, four robots crashed into each other and fell in a tangled heap. In the 1500-metre running event, one robot suddenly collapsed while running at full speed, drawing gasps and cheers from spectators. Despite frequent tumbles requiring human assistance to help robots stand, many managed to right themselves independently, earning applause from audiences. Organisers said the games provide valuable data collection opportunities for developing robots for practical applications such as factory work. Football matches help train robots' coordination abilities, which could prove useful for assembly line operations requiring collaboration between multiple units, commentators said. China is investing billions of dollars in humanoids and robotics as the country grapples with an ageing population and growing competition with the U.S. over advanced technologies. It has staged a series of high-profile robotics events in recent months, including what it called the world's first humanoid robot marathon in Beijing, a robot conference and the opening of retail stores dedicated to humanoid robots. Morgan Stanley analysts in a report last week noted a surge in attendance to a recent robot conference from the general public compared to previous years, saying this showed "how China, not just top government officials, has embraced the concept of embodied intelligence."