Over three days in Beijing, humanoid robots competed in races and combat events at the World Humanoid Robot Games, which concluded on Sunday.
However, many robots stumbled, fell, or broke down, needing human intervention and raising doubts about how independent they can truly be.
The tournament brought together over 500 humanoids from 280 teams representing 16 countries—including the United States, Germany, and Japan—competing in events like soccer, running, and boxing at Beijing’s 12,000-seat National Speed Skating Oval, originally built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.
The competition also highlights China’s intensified push to advance AI-driven humanoid robot development.
Human Assistance Still Essential on the Field
Robots frequently stayed close to their operators, who stepped in to control them remotely, lift, adjust, or separate them as needed. Batteries required swapping, and mechanical parts often needed fine-tuning.
While the robots demonstrated some impressive skills, many stumbled, and human assistance was a constant presence. In one case, two people carried a robot off the field like an injured player, highlighting the machines’ current limitations.
Still, the audience responded much like they would to human athletes—cheering when a robot scored, landed a punch, or secured a win, showing genuine excitement for their performances.
Looking ahead, AI-driven robots are expected to find wider applications in industrial environments.
Read the original article on: Tech Xplore
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