The humanoid robot ‘Olympics’ is as ridiculous as it is impressive
Two robots beat Usain Bolt’s 100-meter-dash record—but likely couldn’t survive in the real world
The World Humanoid Robot Games, now in its second year, showcased humanoid robots that defied Usain Bolt's 100-meter dash record, yet were likely ill-suited for real-world survival. The five-day event, held in Beijing, featured 51 events, including kickboxing, table tennis, and soccer, with robots representing 16 countries, including Germany, Japan, and the U.S. While the robots' superhuman abilities were impressive, their real-world application remained a challenge.
One robot that broke Bolt's record also crashed into a padded wall, and another caught fire during a weightlifting event. Despite these setbacks, some robots, like the one that successfully played tennis, demonstrated an ability to adapt in real-world settings. However, experts like Rodney Brooks from MIT cautioned that these robots, while faster or stronger in specific tasks, still lack the agility, balance, and mobility of human athletes.
While we may not see robots competing in the actual Olympics soon, their rapid advancement is undeniable.
Written by urgent.news from Scientific American's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
