Robots' swift progress hailed

Foreign delegations parade during the opening ceremony of the second World Humanoid Robot Games at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing on Saturday. [Photo/China Daily]

"From 'strings-attached' puppets to autonomous athletes, that's the transformation we've witnessed in just one year," he said.

The sector's growing vitality is reflected in the numbers. Team entries have jumped 138 percent year-on-year, while the number of participating robots has quadrupled.

This momentum is underpinned by China's manufacturing strengths. In the first half of the year, the country shipped more than 40,000 humanoid robots, accounting for 97 percent of global output, according to the Chinese Institute of Electronics. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology projected that full-year production will exceed 100,000 units.

Beyond the competition, the event served as a showcase for human-robot synergy. The opening ceremony featured a "human-robot symphony" that blurred the line between machine and performer, with 36 robots playing wind instruments, pianos and drums alongside a human orchestra, while 80 robots autonomously formed the games' emblem and another 80 spelled out "Beijing".

These smart machines also traded forehands with renowned Chinese athletes, including tennis star Zheng Jie. "I was truly impressed by the robot's performance today," Zheng said. "I hope that in the future, robots can provide customized training for professional athletes and serve as a valuable auxiliary tool."

Zheng's remarks point to a deeper ambition behind the games. Beyond the spectacle, this year's event introduced 21 scenario-based competitions covering hotels, hospitals, logistics and emergency response, accelerating the transition of robots from the lab to real-world applications.

One such event, the dexterous-hand competition, tested micro-precision through tasks such as handling tweezers, weighing powder and twisting caps.

The "combined pentathlon" raised the stakes further by merging sprinting with task completion, compelling robots to master physics, adapt to varied surfaces and recover from stumbles.

"The goal is to evaluate how far mass-produced robots can perform in real environments," said Chen Zilong, captain of China's Afu robot team.

During the hotel scenario practice, his machines struggled on thick carpet — a surface never encountered in training. Yet Chen sees the setback as providing valuable data. "When people see robots operating in hotels, malls and fire-rescue scenarios, they begin to imagine the possibilities," he said.

Zhang Feng, Party secretary of the Council of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, said the games are unfolding against a broader backdrop of technological transformation.

"Humanoid robots are moving beyond stage performances and racetrack demonstrations to become genuine assistants in our homes and workers on factory floors. They are poised to be the next game-changing innovation after computers, smartphones and new energy vehicles," Zhang said.

According to the institute, China's humanoid robot market is projected to hit 870 billion yuan ($129.4 billion) by 2030, playing a key role in advancing the country's high-quality development.

China's technological strides also impressed international teams. Flavio Tonidandel, coach of Team Brazil, which comprises students and faculty from five universities, said, "We are thrilled to program the Chinese robot, the Booster, and interact with the most advanced humanoid robot we have ever seen."

Zati Hakim Azizul Hasan, mentor of Malaysia's Robotedge team, said: "China offers the best components. When you see robots that run faster and jump higher, that's the Chinese secret recipe. Chinese technology is exceptional in the world, and they can also make this software very affordable. This is what makes Chinese technology so intriguing."

Samantha Zhu, chairperson of Accenture China, said: "China is emerging as a critical testing ground for embodied intelligence such as humanoid robots. AI is no longer just a tool; it's becoming a versatile, cross-scenario capability permeating every facet of enterprise operations."

Local governments are also moving swiftly. The Beijing municipal government, for instance, has established a 10 billion yuan investment fund for robotics, which is expected to attract over 53 billion yuan in additional private capital. The city now hosts nearly 1,000 robotics companies, including seven valued at over $1 billion — the highest number in the country.