Androids go for the gold in China's robot 'Olympics'
SHUNSUKE TABETA
August 16, 2025 04:36 JST
BEIJING -- More than 500 androids will run, kick and play table tennis to show off their capabilities in the world's first Olympic-style humanoid robot games.
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Japan Today
20 hours ago
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Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games show how a human touch is still needed
A robot competes in the 1500m race during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) By MAHESH KUMAR 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. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
NHK
a day ago
- NHK
Humanoid robot games in Beijing showcase cutting-edge technology
More than 500 human-like robots from 16 countries, including Japan, have demonstrated their skills at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The four-day event that ended on Sunday was hosted by the Chinese capital's municipal government and other entities. China has been making strenuous efforts to excel in the field of humanoid robotics. The robots competed in 26 events, such as track and field, soccer and dancing. In the 100-meter sprint, the winning robot clocked 21.5 seconds. Kick-boxing robots, operated by humans, staggered after getting punched by their opponents, but regained their balance and kept on fighting. There were some mishaps. On the soccer pitch, fully-autonomous robots competed in teams. One of them suddenly collapsed after going out of control. In the 400-meter relay, robots collided with one another. An 11-year-old boy said that when one robot fell, the others fell as well. He said that's different from human beings. A man in his 40s visiting with his family said China has seen rapid progress in humanoid robotics in recent years. He said he believes China will become a leading force in this sector. Some competitions were about serving hotel customers or sorting construction materials in real-world situations. Some robots took too much time performing their tasks or failed to complete them. The event also highlighted the challenges that developers will have to tackle.
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- The Mainichi
Humanoid robots showcase skills in 'world's 1st' games in China
BEIJING (Kyodo) -- 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.
