Robots dance and spar as Beijing hosts 1st World Humanoid Robot Games

Beijing staged the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games last week, beginning Thursday evening with an opening ceremony where robots danced hip-hop, performed martial arts and played musical instruments. Competitions ran from Friday through Sunday at the National Speed Skating Oval, with more than 500 robots from 280 teams representing 16 countries, including the U.S., Germany and Japan.

The showcase featured robots performing alongside human dancers, modeling hats and clothing on a runway and demonstrating athletic skills. Machines competed in soccer, boxing and running contests that tested agility, coordination and endurance. Some robots drew applause for small breakthroughs, such as a soccer player that stood up unassisted after falling, while others faltered, including a model that collapsed on the runway and had to be carried offstage. Of the participating groups, 192 represented universities such as Tsinghua and Peking and 88 came from private enterprises such as Chinese robotics firms Unitree and Fourier Intelligence.

Organizers presented the games as a platform to advance humanoid robotics at a time when China is investing heavily in artificial intelligence. State-run outlet People’s Daily quoted a Beijing government official as saying every robot that participated “is creating history.” The competition followed other recent showcases of humanoid machines in Beijing, including a half-marathon in April where 21 robots raced alongside human runners.