Beijing robot games shift focus from sport to work

Beijing hosts the World Robot Conference and the second World Humanoid Robot Games this week, showcasing China's rapid robotics development. The events feature over 300 companies and 2,000 products, with the games expanding from 280 to 666 teams and from 500 to 2,056 robots Source: Infobae. The focus shifts from athletic prowess to practical work skills, with 21 of 51 events simulating real-world scenarios like factories, logistics, and homes Source: Listín Diario.

From sport to work

Organizers aim to translate competitive skills into commercial applications. Zhao Dongwei, deputy director of the organizing committee, says, "If last year the robots demonstrated more their sporting abilities, this year we will see a great improvement in their ability to work" Source: Infobae. The games now include 20 real-world-inspired scenarios, up from six, covering domestic chores, rescue operations, and more Source: Listín Diario.

Mixed progress

While some robots excel, others struggle. A table tennis robot developed by Ping Luo's team at the University of Hong Kong plays autonomously, adapting to opponents' speed Source: Listín Diario. In contrast, during football training, some robots fell, lost orientation, or had trouble finding the ball. Wu Junyi, a high school student, admits, "Our robot normally could not find the ball" Source: Infobae.

Domestic tasks and data

Reuters videos show humanoids doing laundry, loading washers, and placing fruit in baskets Source: Clarín. These robots integrate data from five sources, including internet data and teleoperation, with continuous learning mechanisms Source: Clarín. Zhang Zhizheng, co-founder of a participating company, notes, "The more it works, the better it does" Source: Clarín. Despite the "World" label, participation remains mostly Chinese, with only about 30 foreign teams Source: Infobae.