More than 500 androids took part in events ranging from the 100-yard (109-yard) hurdles to kung fu as the first World Humanoid Robot Games for the first time came to an end in Beijing.
The National Speed Skating Oval in China, which was constructed for the 2022 Winter Olympics, hosted 200 80 robotics teams from 16 nations.
Events included both competitive sports like basketball and basketball, as well as practical tasks like arranging and cleaning medications.
According to 18-year-old spectator Chen Ruiyuan, “I believe robots will be basically on the same level as humans in the next ten years or so.”
Perhaps human athletes aren’t yet quaking in their boots.
Ten robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the pitch during one of the first five-a-side games, getting stuck in a scrum or falling over in a flurry.
However, Unitree’s humanoid, the nation’s champion, stomped along the track at a fast pace, easily outpacing its rivals in a 1, 500m (nearly 1-mile) race.
The fastest robot broke the human man’s record of 3:26.50, which was a respectable time.
A human operator was immediately struck by one mechanical racer. Despite not appearing to be hurt, the robot remained standing while the human was knocked flat.
The 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games is the first to concentrate solely on robots that resemble human bodies, according to organizers. Robot competitions have been around for decades.
In an effort to take the lead in the field, the Chinese government has invested money in robotics.
The International Federation of Robotics stated in a report released on Thursday that Beijing has “placed humanoids at the center of their national strategy.”
The government added that it wants to show its expertise and global competitiveness in this area of technology.
China made plans for a one-trillion-yuan ($139bn) fund in March to help support technology start-ups, including those in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Source: Aljazeera
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