Robots race against each other in China's first Olympics

The Humanoid Robot Olympics, featuring 280 teams from 16 countries competing in football, table tennis, athletics and engineering challenges, has just opened in Beijing.

Humanoid robot participates in 100m race. Photo: Reuters.

The three-day humanoid robot sports show, which will feature 280 teams from 16 countries, kicked off on August 15 in Beijing and is billed as the “World Humanoid Robot Olympics” to showcase the latest advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

Robots competed in a variety of sports including soccer, athletics, and table tennis, as well as specialized technical challenges including drug sorting, material handling, and cleaning services. Of these, 192 teams represented universities and 88 were from private companies, including many domestic robotics companies such as Unitree and Fourier. International teams from the United States, Germany, and Brazil also participated in the event.

The Beijing municipal government is one of the organizers, showing the priority China places on robotics, a field seen as central to its AI and automation strategy as the country's economy slows and its population ages rapidly.

China's robotics industry received more than $20 billion in government subsidies last year. Beijing also plans to set up a 1 trillion yuan ( $137 billion ) fund to support AI and robotics startups.

In recent months, the country has hosted a series of major events, from its first humanoid robot competition to industry conferences to robot retail stores. But not all activities have gone smoothly. One marathon, in particular, sparked controversy when some robots caught fire and failed to finish the race, raising questions about the practicality of mass production.

However, experts say these competitions act as a catalyst, pushing humanoid robots closer to practical applications. A recent Morgan Stanley report noted a surge in conference attendance, showing that AI and robotics are attracting the attention of not only leaders but also the public.

Booster Robotics, the robot supplier for Tsinghua University’s soccer team, says soccer is a comprehensive test of cognition, decision-making, and control technology, all of which can be applied in manufacturing or the home.

“Playing soccer is a training activity that helps us improve our abilities,” said chief scientist Zhao Mingguo at Tsinghua University.

Source: https://znews.vn/trung-quoc-gay-soc-voi-the-van-hoi-robot-post1577107.html