18/08/2025

LYFE MONDAY | AUG 18, 2025 22 Playing to win o China showcases advanced androids at World Humanoid Robot Games C HINA kicked off the three-day long World Humanoid Robot Games last Friday, looking to showcase its advances in artificial intelligence and robotics with 280 teams from 16 countries. Robots competed in sports such as track and field, and table tennis, as well as tackled robot-specific challenges from sorting medicines and handling materials to cleaning services. Teams came from countries, including the US, Germany and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private enterprises such as China’s Unitree and Fourier Intelligence. Competing teams used robots from Chinese manufacturers such as Booster Robotics. China is investing billions of dollars in humanoids and robotics as the country grapples with an ageing

People and robots take part in the opening ceremony of the World Humanoid Robot Games in China last Friday.

population and growing competition with the US over advanced technologies. It has staged a series of high-profile robotics events in recent months, including what it called the world’s first humanoid robot marathon in Beijing, a robot conference and the opening of retail stores dedicated to humanoid robots. – Reuters

Robots compete in a 3×3 football match.

Two robots fight in a free combat style event.

A robot practises for the 100m sprint.

Robots and children dance during the opening ceremony.

The winner of the dance event from Beijing Dance Academy and Hubei Optics Valley Dongzhi poses during the award ceremony. – ALL PICS FROM AFP

A robot competes in the 1,500m run.

A referee announces the winner in the free combat style event.