Beijing’s advanced arenas are buzzing with excitement as 30 teams from the United States, Brazil, Germany, Portugal and more prepare for the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games, set to run from August 14 to 17 in the Chinese capital.
These teams will face off in fully autonomous 5-on-5 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots can identify the ball, navigate the pitch with surprising agility, and even stand up on their own after a fall.
The Shanhai Team from China Agricultural University enters the competition fresh off a runner-up finish at the RoboCup Humanoid Robot Soccer World Cup in Brazil. According to team leader Yang Shaoshuai, their strategy relies on Booster Robotics’ hardware platform for dribbling and ball control, allowing them to focus on refining perception, positioning and decision-making code.
On the flip side, Portugal’s University of Minho squad assembled their team just two weeks ago, installing their own software stack on the same robots and crafting custom feet to enhance performance. Headed by Antonio Ribeiro, the team built motor controls and agility routines from scratch, testing low-level PID algorithms to optimize every movement.
Beyond the thrill of competition, these matches serve as real-world testbeds for next-generation AI and robotics. By pushing machines through high-speed, unpredictable soccer scenarios, researchers gain critical insights into sensor fusion, autonomous navigation and dynamic decision-making.
As China leverages sports events like marathons, boxing and football to accelerate humanoid development, the World Humanoid Robot Games offers a front-row seat to the future of AI-driven machines. From August 14 to 17, global innovators and sports fans alike can witness how these mechanical athletes learn, adapt and inch closer to human-level skills.
Reference(s):
Teams prepare for inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing
cgtn.com
