[Photo via Beijing Fabu]

From August 22 to 26, the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games will take place at the National Speed Skating Oval ("Ice Ribbon") in Beijing. This year's competition will feature two main categories: competitive events and scenario-based events. A total of 32 events are on the agenda, including track and field, soccer, and street dance in the competitive category, as well as housekeeping, firefighting, and retail assistance in the scenario-based category.

This year, the robot athletes will deliver even more impressive performances in three key areas.

Robots will become more autonomous than ever before. The 100-meter race has been upgraded to a fully autonomous event now, and the rules for scenario-based events encourage participating teams to adopt fully autonomous methods for positioning, recognition, and operation. 

Robots will become more dexterous. New challenges will be introduced to test their fine motor skills, including folding clothes in a home setting, extinguishing fires in emergency rescue scenarios, and preparing cooked food in retail environments.

Furthermore, the robots will become more capable in real-world applications. Unlike previous competitions held in simulated environments, this year's scenario-based events will take place in real-world settings such as factories, hotels, and model homes. The robots will need to autonomously perform continuous, long-duration tasks in authentic complex settings. This approach aims to transform robots from mere demonstration tools into effective, real-world solutions with tangible productivity.

Which event are you most excited to see? Feel free to share your thoughts with us!

(Source: Beijing Daily)