At China's 'robot Olympics', humanoids spar, sprint and perform taichi

The five-day World Humanoid Robot Games commenced in Beijing on August 22, showcasing a blend of human sports and robot performance tests. Organised by China, the games feature 51 events, with 30 being traditional sports competitions and 21 scenario-based contests. Huawei, a key tech partner, revealed that over 40% of these events necessitate autonomous robot operation.

On day one, two robots sprinted faster than human speed records, with one completing the 100-meter dash in 9.58 seconds - faster than Usain Bolt's world record, and another covering 400 meters in 39.7 seconds, surpassing South African athlete Wayde van Niekerk's record. However, braking proved challenging, as robots collided with a thick mat positioned several meters past the finish line.

Beyond the athletic displays, the games highlight robots' ability to handle practical tasks like packaging, warehouse operations, and precision work like cable connections. These more "mundane" tasks aim to evaluate robots' capability to function like humans in less glamorous roles. According to robotics investor Xu Qiaosheng, these tests are crucial for the industrial sector, as they reveal how robots can handle real-world imperfections like misaligned cables, unreachable objects, shifting packages, and missed steps.

Robotics CEO Yu Chao emphasised that while the games offer a glimpse into technological advancements, their true value lies in the robots' ability to solve practical problems in real-world situations.