From cooking to cleaning, humanoid robots put skills to the test in Beijing

In a unique competition held at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, humanoid robots put their skills to the test, moving beyond speed skating. One robot, designated No. 65, attempted to organize a pile of large cardboard boxes, file organizers, and trash cans. However, it struggled with even the simplest tasks, such as cleaning up office clutter.

Another set of robots took on the role of restaurant workers, handling kitchen duties like brewing coffee and serving bread. The second World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing, with a focus on the robots' work abilities. The five-day event featured 2,056 robots from 666 teams and 16 countries competing in 1,301 contests across 51 events.

Organizers emphasized scenario-based events to test robots' real-world capabilities, covering nine areas such as household cleaning, hotel services, and industrial production. Robots were assessed on their ability to readjust hand position, regulate force, and resume tasks after failures. The testing extended beyond the arena, with six scenarios held in real-world settings, including hotel service robots making beds and clearing trash.

While robots have made significant strides in traditional sporting events, the challenge remains in developing AI that can understand the physical world and control humanoid robots effectively. Toby Walsh, a professor of artificial intelligence, believes it may take 10 years for robots to perform about 80% of tasks given by humans.