Robots in the arena

Humanoid sports are no longer a fantasy; China has a whole Games happening next month

- VAISHALI DAR

This year in April, China made headlines by hosting the world's first humanoid half-marathon in Beijing. In this race, 21 humanoid robots competed on a 21-kilometer track alongside thousands of human runners. These robots were between 1.5 and 6.5 feet tall and had a humanoid structure capable of bipedal walking or running. This half-marathon saw 12,000 human participants alongside robots developed by more than 20 companies. Some robots fell. Some overheated. But six of them finished the race, an extraordinary achievement in the world of robotics. The winner, a robot named Tiangong Ultra, completed the marathon in just over two and a half hours. It had to change its batteries three times and stumbled once, but still crossed the finish line. The event wasn't just about fun. It was a serious test of robotic endurance, balance, and real-world performance.

There's a fascinating new trend emerging in the world of technology: the rise of humanoid sports. This futuristic form of athletic competition features robots that look and move like humans, competing in races, games, and physical challenges. Once fantasy, humanoid sports is now real, capturing global attention.

Last week, humanoid robots kicked, scored, and tumbled while competing at a ROBO League football tournament in Beijing, China. Four teams faced off in a series of 3-on-3 games, with the robots operating autonomously using AI-driven strategies. The event was a preview to the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games to be held in August.