Latest news with #kickboxing
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
China's humanoid robots test skills in unique kickboxing competition
Read more here: Humanoid robots from start-up Unitree Robotics showed off their fighting skills at a unique kickboxing competition held in Hangzhou, China on May 25, 2025, a few weeks after Beijing hosted the world's first half-marathon where these machines raced alongside humans. Organised by state-owned China Media Group and broadcast live by China Central Television (CCTV), the kickboxing competition saw four Unitree G1 humanoid robots square off in one-on-one matches where they punched, kicked and even did a kip-up – an acrobatic transition from prone position to standing position – after getting knocked down.
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.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Humanoid Robot Boxing Is a Thing Now and Tesla's Optimus Should Be Very Scared
Bad news for Optimus—things are getting physical. There's just something about robots that makes us really want to kick them. Like this one, this one, or all of these ones. I know that the kicking technically has a purpose, but let's be honest, it's not the harrowing trial of human-like locomotion and stability that makes us want to kick, it's the uh… kicking part. Abusing robots is fun, apparently, but also very tiring. I mean, who has time to kick and punch? In this economy? Luckily, this is 2025, and now the robots can kick and punch each other. No, really, they're going in. Humanoid robot fights have officially begun. — CIX 🦾 (@cixliv) May 25, 2025 Welcome to this week's hottest new bloodsport (greasesport?), humanoid robot kickboxing, aka the China Media Group World Robot Tournament, which is, according to the overlords of robot violence themselves, the 'world's first combat competition exclusively featuring humanoid robots.' Ding, ding, ding: In one corner, we have Unitree's G1 robot, and in the other corner, we have… another Unitree's G1 robot! Watch them as they perform feats of kicking and punching and wobbling around after being kicked and punched! It's almost as exciting as human violence! Especially if you're a nerd who's really into engineering. The event, outside of entertaining us with the spectacle of robot-on-robot fisticuffs, is obviously supposed to showcase the agility and humanness of Unitree's G1 robots and China's acumen and advancement on that front. But I'm not sure—technically speaking—there's much to fawn over here. Kicking is cool, don't get me wrong, but robots have been astounding us with feats of agility for a while now, and to be honest, I'll be more impressed when I see a robot that can adeptly fold laundry. But I guess I'm probably missing the point here—this is more about the exhibition than it is the technology. So, to borrow a phrase from everyone's favorite fictional gladiator, Maximus Decimus Meridius, ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? The answer? Kind of. But to be honest, I'd be a lot more entertained if there were a celebrity in the mix. Not a human one (relax, Danny Bonaduce, you can rest those mittens for now), but a robot one. Pie-in-the-sky scenario? I'm tapping in Tesla's Optimus robot. Sure, Optimus may be better suited for factory life right now (at least Elon Musk hopes so), but how do we really know that Optimus is up to the task of home care and revolutionizing the supply chain until we know whether or not it can kick another robot's metal ass in a fight? I don't know about you, but I always trust the strong guy more. You hear that, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson? You've got my vote in the bag. No, but seriously. This is your call to action, Mr. Musk. You may be too much of a coward to take on the metaverse's favorite f***boy, Mark Zuckerberg, in the ring, but now is your time to shine—we all know you need the attention. If your robot is really as useful as you say it is, it's time to put your money where Optimus' shaky hands are and show us what Tesla's humanoid bot can do. Though, to be honest, I think the G1 and Optimus are in a different weight class—the former is just a lil guy after all—so we may need to address that first, even if Musk is no stranger to punching down.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Science
- Telegraph
Watch: China stages first robot kickboxing match
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-powered 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. 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. Quickly the robots improved, 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. 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.
Independent Singapore
4 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
Robot rumble: Unitree's humanoids throw punches in wild kickboxing showdown
CHINA: In an engaging demonstration of how advanced engineering merges with martial arts capabilities, four humanoid androids from Chinese cybernetics start-up Unitree Robotics went face-to-face in a 'never-before-seen' kickboxing match in Hangzhou on Sunday. According to a recent South China Morning Post report, the event, a live transmission via China Central Television (CCTV), captured the attention of spectators all over the country, denoting another audacious move in China's soaring ambition into the humanoid robotics frontier. From dance floors to fight rings Unitree's humanoid automatons have already pirouetted their way into national awareness—previously this year, its H1 androids showcased their 'abilities' together with humans at the Spring Festival Gala. However, Sunday's affair was all about tenacity, spunk, dexterity, and raw motorised power. The G1 robots, standing 130 cm tall and weighing 35 kg, donned normal kickboxing gloves and defensive head coverings. Controlled remotely through voice instructions and cutting-edge motion-control systems, they swanked punch combos, kicks, oblique side-steps, and even kip-ups—a gymnastic rise from the floor after being hit or whacked down. See also Facebook's 'Ugly Truth' Memo Shows Questionable Ethics AI-powered punches and precision In contrast to conventional remote-controlled technologies, Unitree's G1 robots function on cutting-edge AI-driven systems. According to Liu Tai, deputy chief engineer at China Telecommunication Technology Labs, these androids react to a sequence of instructions that trigger complicated sets of motion procedures. 'It's not about issuing a single command to move,' Liu clarified through the live transmission. 'The robot's movement, balance, and reflexes are controlled by a whole system of AI algorithms.' Each bout comprised three two-minute rounds, with scores given for clean attacks to the adversary's head or rib cage. Robots were knocked out if they couldn't stand up within eight seconds. In the concluding bout, the android controlled by tech influencer Lu Xin won. Unitree's 'strong entrepreneurial spirit' garnered accolades from the Chinese social media platform Weibo. China's humanoid robot race accelerates The kickboxing competition is just one part of China's aggressive push to lead in the evolving humanoid robot trade. Hangzhou-based Unitree is one of six local firms mobilising for mass production this year. According to TrendForce, a market research firm, over a thousand humanoid items are projected to come out of Chinese production lines in 2025, with key players including AgiBot, Engine AI, Galbot, and Leju Robotics. In addition, robot-focused sporting events are already on the drawing board. A Beijing event in August will showcase 11 sports, while a combat match with full-sized humanoids is slated for December in Shenzhen. As China's humanoids continue to develop from performers to competitors to industrial workhands, their act inside the ring may just be a sneak peek of larger clashes in the future.
