China Showcases AI and Robotics at Humanoid Robot Games
China opened the three-day World Humanoid Robot Games on Friday, bringing together 280 teams from 16 countries. The event highlighted advances in artificial intelligence and robotics through contests in track and field, table tennis, and robot-specific tasks such as medicine sorting, material handling, and cleaning services.
Teams traveled from the United States, Germany, Brazil, and beyond, with 192 representing universities and 88 coming from private enterprises like Unitree and Fourier Intelligence. Most competing robots were built by Chinese manufacturers, including Booster Robotics.
“We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research,” said Max Polter, a member of the HTWK Robots football team from Germany, affiliated with Leipzig University of Applied Sciences. He added that experimenting in such contests is less costly than investing in failed commercial products.
Dramatic Moments and Audience Reactions
The games in Beijing attracted paying spectators, with ticket prices ranging from 128 to 580 yuan ($17.83–$80.77). On the field, robots frequently collided, toppled over, or collapsed during events. In one football match, four robots fell in a tangled heap. During the 1500-metre race, another robot suddenly collapsed mid-sprint, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd.
Although many robots needed human help to stand, some managed to right themselves, earning applause. Organisers explained that these competitions provide critical data for improving practical robot applications, including factory work. They noted that football matches are especially useful for training robots in coordination, a skill valuable for assembly line operations.
China’s Expanding Robotics Push
China continues to invest billions of dollars into robotics as it addresses the challenges of an ageing population and rising competition with the United States in advanced technologies. Recently, the country has staged several high-profile robotics events, including what it called the world’s first humanoid robot marathon, a dedicated robot conference, and the launch of retail stores for humanoid robots.
According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, public enthusiasm is rising. A recent report noted a surge in attendance at robotics events compared with previous years. They wrote that the growing interest reflects “how China, not just top government officials, has embraced the concept of embodied intelligence.”
