BEIJING – Humanoid robots on Friday showcased their skills at the inaugural sports games featuring them in Beijing, which the city touts as the world’s first, with the machines competing in such disciplines as football, kickboxing and track and field.
About 500 humanoids are participating in the World Humanoid Robot Games through Sunday, mainly held at the National Speed Skating Oval, a venue from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, with 280 teams from 16 countries including the United States, Japan, Germany and Italy joining matches of some 25 sport events.
The games are aimed at promoting humanoid robots’ “athletic abilities, collaboration, intelligence and scenario-based services,” enabling them to better serve human life, according to organizers. Bipedal robots must operate autonomously or by remote control, with no exchange of players allowed during the games.
In the 1,500-meter race, some robot runners were so fast that accompanying human runners were short of breath. At a football match, robot players chasing the ball clashed violently, with one machine exiting the game as it was unable to get back on its feet.
A robot kickboxer collapsed to its knees after being hit hard during a heated match and could not get up again.
In addition to sport events also including dance and basketball, the event also featured competitions of practical skills such as sorting out drugs at a pharmacy and serving customers at a hotel.
China has been eager to promote the development of cutting-edge technology, including humanoid robots and artificial intelligence, amid its intensifying rivalry with the United States.
In April, Beijing hosted a half marathon featuring humanoid robots together with amateur runners.
