The 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games close Aug. 26 at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, the “Ice Ribbon” built for the 2022 Winter Olympics. There are 666 teams from 16 countries and more than 2,000 humanoid robots—four times the machines and 138% more teams than a year ago, according to the Beijing municipal government.
In the 100-meter contest, a robot from the Tianzhuo Team ran 9.39 seconds, against Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58. Last year’s winning time was 21.5. In the standing high jump, last year’s champion cleared 95.6 centimeters; this year it was 2.88 meters. Last year’s best long jump was 1.25 meters; several passed 7 meters this year. In contrast, the (human) men’s 100-meter record fell by about one second over the whole twentieth century.
Events include soccer with teams of 5 (up from 3 last year), kickboxing, and table tennis. Also picking up beans with tweezers and power tool assembly — factory work, run as sport. Tickets started at 98 yuan.
