Chinese startup shows off applications of race-winning humanoid robot
BEIJING (Kyodo) -- A Chinese startup demonstrated Friday in Beijing how a robot that recently won a humanoid-only half marathon race can work in a wide range of areas, including manufacturing, logistics, home and health care services.
The developer of the Tien Kung robot, which finished first among the 20 teams in the foot race last month with a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes, demonstrated to overseas media the machine's functionality such as putting fruit on a plate and completing warehouse logistics tasks.
An official of Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics Co. told reporters, "We hope that Tien Kung will not only be the fastest robot in the future but also the most practical."
It can be used for various purposes such as operations that are too dangerous for humans, as well as helping to improve productivity and efficiency, he added.
The robot also demonstrated its ability to negotiate an incline and walk on sand, grass and gravel surfaces.
China has been keen to promote the development of cutting-edge products such as artificial intelligence-powered humanoid robots and new energy vehicles as it engages in an intensifying technology rivalry with the United States.
In August, the city of Beijing is scheduled to host the World Humanoid Robot Sports Games, which will include track and field, gymnastics and football events designed to test the machines' athletic dexterity, coordination and teamwork capabilities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
an hour ago
- The Mainichi
Japan sees 1st simultaneous operations by China carriers in Pacific
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan confirmed for the first time two Chinese aircraft carriers operating simultaneously in the Pacific, as the government said Monday it has spotted the Shandong near Japan's southernmost Okinotori island, a move further fueling Tokyo's concerns over Beijing's military activities. The announcement came a day after the Defense Ministry said the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning was observed in the vicinity of Japan's easternmost Minamitori Island in the Pacific for two days from Saturday, the first confirmed navigation by a Chinese carrier in those waters. Together with four vessels including a missile destroyer, the Shandong was sailing through waters 550 kilometers southeast of Miyako Island in the southern prefecture of Okinawa on Saturday around 1 p.m., according to the ministry. On Monday, the Shandong, commissioned in 2019 as China's second aircraft carrier, conducted landing and takeoff drills involving its fighter jets and helicopters north of the Okinotori, some 1,700 km south of Tokyo, within Japan's exclusive economic zone, the ministry said. Meanwhile, the Liaoning, along with two destroyers and another vessel, was seen in waters about 300 km southwest of Minamitori, which is approximately 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo, at around 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the ministry. The area lies within Japan's EEZ. The Liaoning then moved southwest and conducted landing and takeoff drills with its fighter jets and helicopters on Sunday outside the EEZ. The Liaoning was observed beyond what is known as the "second island chain" stretching from Japan's Izu Islands to Guam, a Japanese government official said. China considers the chain its defense line. Following the Liaoning's move, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said earlier Monday that Japan will continue to closely monitor China's growing maritime activity and step up surveillance, saying that China apparently intends to "enhance its capability to carry out missions at sea and in the skies farther away" from its shores. "We will do our utmost to perform our warning and surveillance duties at sea and in the air," Hayashi, the top government spokesman, told a regular press conference, adding Japan has conveyed its position to China regarding the latest development. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended the aircraft carrier's activities, saying at a press conference Monday that they are "fully consistent with international law and international practices." Lin said China pursues a national policy that is "defensive in nature," expressing hope that Japan will view its activities "objectively and rationally." Commissioned in 2012 as China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning is a refurbished Soviet-made vessel purchased from Ukraine in the late 1990s and features a "ski-jump" takeoff ramp.
The Mainichi
2 hours ago
- The Mainichi
US, China hold high-level trade talks with rare earths in focus
LONDON (Kyodo) -- Senior U.S. and Chinese officials met in London on Monday, with a top economic adviser to President Donald Trump expecting the latest round of trade talks to result in Beijing promptly lifting its export controls on rare earth minerals. The second high-level meeting, following mid-May talks in Geneva, took place after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone last week, their first known direct communication since the U.S. president's inauguration for a nonconsecutive second term in January. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer attended the talks, which could also continue Tuesday. The trio met with a Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng, a longtime confidant of Xi who oversees economic affairs. On Monday, Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, struck an optimistic note about the meeting's anticipated outcome. Hassett said in an interview with CNBC that the talks are likely to end with a "big, strong handshake." "Our expectation is that after the handshake, then export controls from the U.S. will be eased, and the rare earths will be released in volume, and then we can go back to negotiating smaller matters," he said. The 90-minute phone conversation between Trump and Xi on Thursday came after Washington and Beijing exchanged barbs over alleged violations of a preliminary agreement reached in Geneva. Under the deal, the two countries established a 90-day truce in their trade war and committed to stepping back from their respective triple-digit tariff rates. In the days leading up to his call with Xi, the Trump administration expressed frustration over China's slow removal of export controls on critical minerals used in high-tech products, accusing Beijing of failing to uphold the terms of the initial deal. China had criticized the Trump administration for imposing "discriminatory measures," including export control guidance on artificial intelligence chips and the revocation of visas for Chinese students studying in the United States. China's Commerce Ministry said Saturday that Beijing has approved a number of export license applications for rare earth-related items, citing global demand from industries such as robotics and new energy vehicles. However, it did not provide further details. China mines about 70 percent of the world's rare earths that are used in the production of smartphones, personal computers and vehicles. As part of retaliatory measures against high U.S. tariffs, Beijing in April introduced export controls on seven types of rare-earth minerals. Amid a tit-for-tat tariff war, Chinese exports to the United States in May fell 34.5 percent from a year earlier to $28.8 billion, while Chinese imports from the country dropped 18.1 percent to $10.8 billion, customs data of the Asian powerhouse showed Monday.
Nikkei Asia
4 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
BYD price cuts spark plunge in global rubber futures
TOKYO -- International prices for natural rubber are plummeting as price cuts by major Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD triggered concern that a possible price war in the country's auto sector will weigh on tire prices. Benchmark rubber futures on the Osaka Exchange fell 4% on June 3 to 280 yen ($2) per kilogram, the lowest price since February 2024. Though futures prices had tumbled after U.S. President Donald Trump announced his sweeping tariffs in early April, they rebounded later as tariff tensions between Washington and Beijing eased.
