Historic debut of the World Humanoid Robot Games kicks off in Beijing




The inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG) roared into life yesterday evening at the iconic National Speed Skating Oval – the “Ice Ribbon” from the 2022 Winter Olympics. (See video below.)

A dazzling opening ceremony saw humanoid robots break into hip-hop dance routines, martial arts displays, and live musical performances on keyboards, guitars, and drums.

One robot even scored a soccer goal; another fell but got back up unaided, while a model bot tumbled off the stage and had to be carried by staff – underscoring both the spectacle and the still-evolving nature of the technology.

More than 500 humanoid robots from 280 teams across 16 countries, including the US, Germany, Brazil, and Japan, will compete through August 17 across a wide spectrum of challenges – sports like soccer, running, boxing, table tennis, and track events, as well as scenario-based tasks like medicine sorting, cleaning services, and industrial handling.

The event is a high-profile push by Chinese authorities to accelerate robotics innovation, backed by over US$20 billion in government subsidies and plans for a 1 trillion Yuan ($137 billion) fund supporting AI and robotics startups.

Unitree’s role: Hardware backbone and competitor

Unitree Robotics is officially participating in WHRG. Available coverage confirms this: Unitree, in collaboration with the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence (BIGAI), is entering several key events – including solo dance, hotel cleaning, and guest reception, showcasing a cutting-edge “clone system” for closed-loop teleoperation of the full humanoid body across long tasks.

Moreover, multiple teams at the event appear to be using Unitree hardware, though often running their own independent software – a detail that align with your observation that many of the humanoids seem to be Unitree models.

Early competition results confirm Unitree’s hardware prowess: the Unitree H1 series reportedly clinched first place in the 1500 m track final, Group 1, finishing in 7 minutes and 10 seconds.

Why it matters

  • Robots turning real-world tasks into sport: From athletic disciplines to practical services and performance art, the Games stress-test navigation, perception, adaptability, and decision-making – skills essential for future service, entertainment, and industrial robots.
  • Global tech collaboration: WHRG has attracted massive media attention – 97 overseas outlets and 282 reporters are covering the event – spotlighting the growing international embrace of robotics.
  • Public engagement and industry momentum: Experts view events like these not just as spectacle but as pivotal moments for industry advancement.

Morgan Stanley analysts see widespread public interest as a driver for China’s leadership in humanoid robotics. Booster Robotics notes that sports competitions help refine AI-driven perception and control for broader applications.

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