The World Humanoid Robot Games started in Beijing on Thursday, bringing together more than 500 robots from 16 countries.
Teams from nations such as Japan, the United States, and Germany are competing in 26 different events, including soccer, dance, track, and even kickboxing. The games will continue through Sunday.
The opening ceremony was lively, though not without a few mishaps. One robot, chosen to light the ceremonial torch, toppled over before completing its task. On Friday, the 1,500-meter race had its own surprise when a runner’s head fell off mid-stride, forcing judges to disqualify the robot.
Robotics teams explained that balance is one of the hardest parts of building these machines. “Keeping the head balanced while in movement is the biggest challenge,” said Wang Ziyi, a 19-year-old student from Beijing Union University.
Friday’s soccer match also had a comical moment when one robot tripped, causing several others to tumble down like dominoes. Human helpers had to step in to clear the field before play could continue.
Despite the stumbles, the games highlight the creativity and progress of robot design. Spectators get to see machines that can move, play, and even dance, showing how close robots are coming to imitating human abilities.
