Latest news with #UnitreeG1
Gulf Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Humanoid AI Robots In China Fight Club
Four artificial intelligence-enhanced robots have been put through their paces in a Chinese robot fighting competition, duking it out in kickboxing matches until one was declared the champion. The World Robot Competition Mecha Fighting Series had four human-controlled robots built by China-based firm Unitree compete in three, two-minute rounds with winners crowned through a points system, according to a May 26 report from the China state-owned outlet the Global Times. Chen Xiyun, a Unitree team member, said the 'robots fight in a human-machine collaborative way,' with the machines pre-taught moves, but ultimately, a person controls the bot's movements. The robots reportedly weighed 35 kilograms and stood 132 centimeters tall. Ahead of the boxing rounds, the pint-sized robots were put through tests to demonstrate a variety of kicks and punches and assist the organizers in refining the rules. The team with the highest points across the three rounds moves on to fight another opponent. A punch to the head was worth one point, and a kick to the head was worth three. Teams lost five points if their robot fell and 10 points if their robot was down for over eight seconds. During a livestream of the event on the state broadcaster CCTV, Unitree director Wang Qixin said the robotics company used 'AI technology to let robots learn.' 🤖 China hosted the world's first #humanoid robot fighting competition, the CMG World #Robot Competition. Four teams and their #UnitreeG1 robots duked it out in a globally live-streamed event! 🥊 — Chinese Embassy in US (@ChineseEmbinUS) May 26, 2025 'First of all, the motion capture will be based on some professional fighting athletes. Based on their motion capture data, the robot will learn these movements in the virtual world,' he said. In one of the first matches, a robot in pink headgear fought a robot in black headgear. After a flurry of sometimes misplaced punches and kicks, the black-donned bot was the first to be knocked down after throwing a kick and falling over. However, the black-clad android came back strong and scored a knockdown on pink in round three with a front kick. A second knockdown saw the black bot jump on the pink one to hold it down and claim the win. The pink-wearing bot and another wearing red were both eliminated, leaving the black-donned bot and one wearing green to go toe to toe in the finals. Ultimately, the black bot was declared the champion after outscoring its opponent. Another event with full-sized robots is reportedly locked in for December in South China's Guangdong Province. Also read: Watch: Humanoid Robot Goes Full Skynet After 'Imperfect Coding'
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First Post
4 days ago
- Science
- First Post
Robots are fighting robots in Chinese kick-boxing competition: Here's what happened
The CMG World Robot Competition - Mecha Fighting Series kicked off on Sunday, 25 May in Hangzhou, China and featured humanoid robots developed by Unitree Robotics with a wide range of combat skills that were controlled by teams of four people. read more Humanoid robots take part in the CMG World Robot Competition - Mecha Fighting Series event in Hangzhou, China on Sunday, 25 May. Image credit: Screengrab/CCTV The fields of robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) have come a long way in the last few decades and find themselves becoming increasingly integral across a variety of industries, from manufacturing and healthcare to defence. The two industries have also made their mark in sport; while AI is being used to scout talent at the grassroots level in countries such as Brazil, robots are being used sports such as kickboxing with China launching the world's first humanoid robot fighting competition on Sunday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The unique form of kickboxing took place in the China Media Group (CMG) World Robot Competition - Mecha Fighting Series that kicked off in Hangzhou on Sunday, 25 May. The first-of-its kind event featured robots with a wide range of combat skills developed by Unitree Robotics, the organisation that is headquartered in the eastern Chinese city located a little over a couple of hours away from Shanghai. The robots that featured in the event, however, did not make moves on their own, and were controlled by teams of four people using joysticks. The robot fighters, however, weren't quite the size of an adult human – they measured about 132 centimetres in height and weighed about 35 kilograms, according to Global Times. The event, additionally, was telecast live on China Central Television (CCTV) and also streamed live. World's first robot combat championship kicks off in #China — CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) May 27, 2025 The event comprised demonstration as well as competitive matches, with the robots competing one-on-one as well as in groups, and is part of a larger push to highlight the utility of AI and robotics across a variety of settings including in combat. One of the robots used at the event was the Unitree G1, the company's flagship humanoid robot that has been designed to operate in environments that are considered challenging for humans. Another event featuring full-sized humanoid robots has been scheduled for December and will be organised by EngineAI in Shenzhen, the city located along China's southern coast next to Hong Kong.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
The secret behind China's bombastic robot battles – these shows pack an unexpected punch
They dance, they run, they punch – but they never break a sweat or flinch in pain. China's humanoid robots are increasingly entering human arenas, participating in real-world sports competitions that expose them to unpredictable, complex environments – and, as analysts note, generate valuable data to advance their development. On Sunday, the world's first kickboxing contest featuring humanoid robots kicked off in the eastern city of Hangzhou. Four Unitree G1 robots – donning helmets and boxing gloves to resemble human fighters – unleashed a volley of blows with speed and precision, skilfully executing moves like roundhouse kicks and elbow strikes. The contest came a month after humanoid robots participated in a marathon in Beijing, where robots could be seen running with the form of a human athlete, swinging their arms rhythmically and maintaining a quick, short-stride cadence. 'While China maintains a strong lead in hardware and supply chains, start-ups have started dedicating efforts to develop the 'brains' of humanoid robots,' said Goldman Sachs analysts led by Jacqueline Du in a research note on Thursday, adding that real-world data was 'increasingly important to achieve consistency with physical-world and task accuracy'. Amid the intensifying tech rivalry between China and the United States, on the humanoid-robot front, companies on both sides are racing to boost investor confidence, seeking to convince the market that the technology is advancing faster than expected and that commercialisation is on the horizon.
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
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Punches, kicks and code: China hosts world's first humanoid robot kickboxing match
World robot competition, Mecha fighting series (Image credits: X @CollinRugg) In a first-of-its-kind event, humanoid robots took center stage in a kickboxing match in Hangzhou, China. The competition, part of the China Media Group (CMG) World Robot Competition – Mecha Fighting Series, was held on May 25 and marked the debut of robotic fighters in a full-fledged combat sport. The robots were developed by Unitree Robotics, a Chinese tech company known for its advanced humanoid machines. Four Unitree G1 robots took part in the fight, each about 132 centimeters tall and weighing 35 kilograms, reported Asia Times. They were remotely controlled by human trainers using joysticks, and the match was broadcasted by China Central Television (CCTV). While the event sparked excitement among viewers, one social media user commented humorously, 'The part that confuses me most is the referee in the ring.' Videos from the match showed the robots exchanging punches and kicks with surprising coordination. Although the strikes were more like soft pushes than real hits, the movements displayed impressive balance and speed for machines. The match was part of a larger effort to test and showcase the growing abilities of AI and robotics in dynamic settings. Earlier this year, a Unitree robot was seen in a viral video aggressively reacting to its handlers during a demo, raising safety concerns. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo In another case, during February's Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, a robot reportedly charged toward a crowd, alarming attendees. Such incidents, including a recent case at Tesla's factory in Texas where a robot allegedly injured a worker, have sparked growing concern over AI safety and the potential risks of advanced robotics. Experts have pointed to software glitches and inadequate testing as common causes, highlighting the need for strict quality control in AI development.
