Latest news with #ChinaMediaGroupWorldRobotCompetition
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: China stages first robot kickboxing match
Credit: CCTV/Reuters Chinese-built humanoid robots have shown off their ability to throw punches and dodge right hooks at the world's first robotic kickboxing tournament. The fighting wasn't sophisticated or particularly aggressive, often appearing more like a ballet than a boxing match, but it marked a new milestone in the global race to build an ever more realistic humanoid robot. Four fighting robots, which boxed one-on-one and in teams and were controlled remotely by ringside humans, competed in the China Media Group World Robot Competition on Sunday. The tournament was held in Hangzhou, east China, and was broadcast by Chinese state news, which boasted of the AI-enabled robots being equipped with only domestically produced technologies. 'I believe this is a moment where history shakes hands with the future. We are witnessing history,' the host of the event said. The company behind the G1 bipedal model is Unitree Robotics, a prominent Chinese company often making headlines with its flashy humanoid performances. Its flagship robot had a starring role dancing in the televised Chinese New Year's Eve gala in January. In February, the company started showcasing videos of the model performing martial arts moves, including the spin kick. By April, the robot was seen fighting with humans and easily getting back up after being knocked down. 'The robots fight in a human-machine collaborative way,' Chen Xiyun, a representative of Unitree Robotics, told the Global Times. Each robot weighs only 35kg and is 4.3ft tall – the average height of an eight-year-old child. They can carry up to 3kg, move at 5mph and are equipped with motion control, a 360 degree depth camera and AI decision-making capabilities. The G1 sells for £12,000. Credit: YouTube/Unitree Robotics According to state media, the purpose of the competition was to train the humanoids to 'learn from experience'. In each round, the robots initially struggled to work out where the opponent was, launching aimless punches as menacing blue-lit eyes peered out from their protective headgear. The robots improved quickly, delivering stronger blows, downing opponents with front push kicks, contorting their bodies into splits, and twisting and turning with significant agility. Recent advances in AI software and hardware design have brought highly advanced fighting humanoid robots far closer to reality. Elon Musk's company Tesla is developing its own humanoid called Optimus. In January, the billionaire said that 'several thousand' will be built this year to help do 'useful things' in the car company's factories. However, China's two leading robot manufacturers, Unitree and Agibot, are producing increasingly cheap yet advanced humanoids, designed to be used in everyday life, giving Beijing an early push for dominance in the market. Credit: Reuters and CCTV The Chinese humanoids have been seen running half-marathons, assisting in medical procedures, and solving Rubik's Cubes. According to the Chinese Institute of Electronics, China's humanoid robot market is projected to reach 870 billion yuan (£89 billion) by 2030. Beijing has also since set up a dedicated robotics venture fund worth more than £100 billion, in the hope that the robots could help plug gaps in China's ageing labour market. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
NBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- NBC News
Humanoid robots pack punches in China boxing match
Humanoid robots traded powerful punches in the boxing ring as part of the China Media Group World Robot Competition. Four human operator teams controlled the robots in competitive bouts, pitting them against each other in the ring.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Real Steel Comes To Life? Two Robots Trade Punches In Chinese Kick-Boxing Contest
Last Updated: Two humanoids traded punches in the world's first robot kick-boxing competition organised by China's Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou, China, on Sunday, amusing netizens. In an unusual sight, two humanoid robots traded punches in a kick-boxing competition organised in Hangzhou, China on Sunday. The robots put on their gloves, wore protective headgear and faced off in the world's first robot kickboxing championship. The fight was part of the China Media Group World Robot Competition and featured robots developed by Unitree Robotics, according to BBC. The tournament featured four G1 humanoid robots and was organised by Unitree Robotics in Hangzhou. The robots exchanged punches and kicks with remarkable precision, guided remotely by human operators outside the ring, reminiscent of scenes from sci-fi films like Real Steel. The battle also highlighted significant progress in AI and robotics technology. Viral videos stormed the internet, showing two humanoid robots dishing it out in the boxing ring. 'Welcome to the Mech Combat Arena in Hangzhou, where 4-foot AI-powered fighters throw real punches, not pixels. This is not science fiction—it's live, it's real, and it's broadcast to the world," wrote one user. — Dott. Orikron 🇵🇹 (@orikron) May 25, 2025 🇨🇳KNOCKOUT! CHINA DEBUTS HUMANOID ROBOT FIGHT CLUB?!4 teams. 1 arena. And a G1 robot just laid out its opponent—cold—in the world's first-ever humanoid combat showdown. Welcome to the Mech Combat Arena in Hangzhou, where 4-foot AI-powered fighters throw real punches, not… — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 25, 2025 'At first glance, it looks like fun, but this is a serious emerging market. Imagine humans controlling robots that write their stories in a martial arts federation. This has the potential to be HUGE!" said another individual. Four human operator teams controlled the robots to compete in a tournament-style series of boxing matches. As one of the robot participants, Unitree Robotics' flagship humanoid robot, Unitree G1, is equipped with advanced computing power and smooth motion control. The robots demonstrated straight punches, hook punches, sidekicks and aerial spin kicks, and they even got up from the ground after falling, according to Chen Xiyun, a marketing team member of Unitree Robotics. The fight attracted millions of intrigued viewers, as the robots' movements – driven by advanced motion-control algorithms and powerful AI models – sparked a wide range of reactions. In addition to the event on Sunday, the world's first combat tournament featuring full-sized humanoid robots is scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province on December, according to Global Times. First Published: May 27, 2025, 09:52 IST
Business Mayor
5 days ago
- Sport
- Business Mayor
Humanoid robots fight in Chinese kick-boxing competition
Two humanoid robots traded punches while fans watched on, in a competition held in Hangzhou, China, on Sunday. The fight was part of the China Media Group World Robot Competition and featured robots developed by Unitree Robotics. The event included both fighting demonstrations and matches, marking a world-first combat sports event featuring humanoid robots. READ SOURCE
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Watch: In A World-First, Humanoid Robots Battle It Out In Chinese Kick-Boxing Match
In a world-first event, humanoid robots took centre stage in a kick-boxing competition held in Hangzhou, China. The robots, developed by Unitree Robotics, faced off in a thrilling match that drew a crowd of fascinated onlookers, BBC reported. As part of the China Media Group World Robot Competition, the robots demonstrated their agility and combat capabilities in both exhibition fights and competitive matches. The robots traded punches and kicks with impressive precision, highlighting the rapid advancements being made in robotics and AI. Watch the video here: 🇨🇳 Robot gets KO'd in the world's first humanoid ROBOT FIGHTING tournament in China — Dott. Orikron 🇵🇹 (@orikron) May 25, 2025 Reacting to the video, one user wrote, "The part that confuses me most is the referee in the ring." Another commented, ''They're gonna kill us all when they see the origin story arc, aren't they?" A third said, "We laughed when robot boxing showed up in movies. Now it's here — not CGI, not props, just real metal-throwing punches." A fourth stated, "This isn't just entertainment—this is the birth of a new species. The first punches of a future that won't need us to throw them." However, a fifth user had a different perspective. "Does anyone else find this a little dumb? (1) It's the same robots fighting each other, so there's nothing different to observe from each. (2) It's nowhere near autonomous, clearly remote-controlled. I just don't see the big advancement to be excited about here," he said. Unitree Robotics' humanoid robots have been at the centre of controversy multiple times. A recent incident showed a robot lashing out at its handlers, sparking concerns about AI safety and potential risks. The CCTV footage, widely shared on social media, fueled fears about the rapid advancement of robotics and AI. In February, a robot went rogue and charged at a crowd of festival-goers at the Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, China. Similar incidents involving AI gone wrong have made headlines, such as a robot attacking an engineer at Tesla's Texas factory. Software malfunctions have often been identified as the root cause of these incidents, emphasising the need for rigorous testing and quality control in AI development to prevent such mishaps.
