More autonomous, agile and practical: Beijing to host 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games in August

Beijing will host the second World Humanoid Robot Games from August 22 to 26 at the National Speed Skating Oval, featuring over 30 events that showcase the latest advancements in embodied intelligence and fine manipulation, organizers announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

The five-day competition is divided into two main categories: competitive events and scenario-based contests.

The competitive category includes 26 events across nine disciplines: athletics, football, gymnastics, weightlifting, martial arts, street dance, sport dance, tug of war and pitch-pot.

Jiang Guangzhi, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, said the competition has added new events this year. Tug of war requires teamwork to form the greatest synergy, pitch-pot is a traditional Chinese precision control game derived from ancient archery rituals, and weightlifting tests the robots' upper limb load capacity. These events will demonstrate the comprehensive performance of humanoid robots in rapid pace of iteration.

The scenario-based category features six events set in real-world environments, including factories, hotels, homes, emergency response sites, hospitals and retail spaces.

Compared with the inaugural Games, this year's events have been refined to better showcase robotic advancements and practical applications in both industrial and everyday settings, while also raising the level of challenge and engagement.

Notably, robot football players have upgraded their skills, now able to dribble while moving and perform diving saves, with their competitive level advancing from "preschoolers" to "youths," said Jiang.

He added that robot athletes are expected to deliver more impressive performances to show greater autonomy, dexterity and practicality.

For the first time, the 100-meter race will be fully autonomous. New fine-manipulation tasks include sorting clothes in domestic settings, firefighting in emergencies, and preparing food in retail environments.

Scenario-based events will no longer be held in simulated venues but in real-world settings such as factories, hotels and model homes, pushing humanoid robots from "demonstration tools" toward "practical productivity," said Jiang.

The various robotic events are organized to provide enterprises with a platform for innovation, demonstration and verification, accelerating technological progress, promoting industrial development and facilitating practical application, so as to achieve the goal of promoting research, cultivating talent and boosting industry through competition, said Jiang.

(With input from Xinhua)