In Beijing, China, a competition where more than 2,000 Humanoid Robot units are pitted against one another not only in athletic ability but also in real-world tasks such as factory assembly and household services has kicked off. Participation has grown sharply from the first event last year, and events that recreate industrial and everyday settings have been greatly expanded.
On the 22nd, according to the Beijing Municipal People's Government and China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games opened that day at the Beijing National Speed Skating Oval, "Ice Ribbon." Through the 26th, 2,056 Humanoid Robot units from 666 teams across 16 countries will compete 1,301 times in 51 events. The number of participating robots is more than four times last year's roughly 500.
This year, the focus has shifted beyond how fast robots can run and how well they can kick a ball to testing whether they can be deployed in actual industrial and everyday settings. The 51 events consist of 30 athletic competitions—track and field, soccer, weightlifting, tug-of-war, table tennis—and 21 scenario events that recreate environments such as factories, hotels, homes, and emergency response.
Precise hand movements are also evaluated. Robots perform tasks such as measuring powder, picking up beans with tweezers, and opening bottle caps. Scenario events, which numbered six last year, have increased to 21 this year, raising the weight of assessing real-world usability.
Standards for autonomous execution that do not rely on human remote control have also been strengthened. Except for the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdle races, track events and other competitions are, in principle, conducted in a fully autonomous manner. The organizers plan to use the competition to verify not only the robots' artificial intelligence (AI) but also motion control, body structures, and the performance of key components.
China is expanding the actual industrial deployment of Humanoid Robot units. The organizers plan to develop some of the rules used in the competition into future technical inspection standards for robots and link them to industrial-site application through consolidation.