Humanoid robots from across the globe are converging in Beijing for an unprecedented sporting event, the World Humanoid Robot Games of 2025. This gathering showcases a diverse array of participants, including veterans from recent competitions, newcomers crafted by university teams or through innovative secondary development, and celebrated humanoid robot models with significant commercial backing. Competing on a level playing field, these humanoid robots are not merely rivals but collaborators in driving the industry toward a pivotal “awakening moment.” Each sprint, jump, and leap forward in performance symbolizes a broader advancement in humanoid robot technology, highlighting rapid iterations and breakthroughs that promise to reshape various applications.
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Veterans Return to the Track
Four months after making history in the world’s first humanoid robot semi-marathon held in Beijing, the top finishers are back on the field, demonstrating remarkable improvements in speed and stability. The champion from that event, the humanoid robot known as “Tiangong,” specifically the “Tiangong Ultra” model standing 1.8 meters tall, has drawn significant attention during pre-competition trials. Observers noted that this humanoid robot moved with enhanced agility and velocity, building on its prior success. Similarly, the humanoid robot “N2,” which captured hearts by persevering through a fall that detached its head during the semi-marathon, has returned with reinforced structural integrity and upgraded capabilities. According to Qin Bangyu, an algorithm engineer at Songyan Power, the company behind the humanoid robot “N2,” lessons from the semi-marathon led to critical enhancements in the robot’s frame, algorithmic systems, and motor performance, resulting in a notably faster and more resilient humanoid robot. The humanoid robot “Xingzhe II,” developed by Shanghai Zhuoyide Robot Company, also showcased substantial upgrades, including optimizations to its tendon drive system and joint transmission efficiency. These improvements have doubled its instantaneous speed to nearly 3 meters per second, while its lightweight design and energy recovery technologies ensure endurance for longer events like the 1500-meter race. The progress exhibited by these humanoid robot veterans underscores the rapid pace of innovation within China’s robotics sector, with each iteration bringing humanoid robot technology closer to real-world viability.
Beyond mere speed, the humanoid robot “Tiangong Ultra” has undergone refinements in balance and energy management, allowing it to handle the diverse challenges of the games. The humanoid robot “N2,” in particular, has benefited from advanced control algorithms that enhance its dynamic stability, reducing the risk of mishaps during high-intensity activities. For the humanoid robot “Xingzhe II,” the focus on energy efficiency represents a strategic shift toward sustainable performance, mirroring trends in broader technology fields. These humanoid robot models exemplify how competitive events serve as catalysts for innovation, pushing engineers to address weaknesses and amplify strengths in humanoid robot design. The cumulative advancements seen in these humanoid robot veterans not only elevate their individual capabilities but also set new benchmarks for the entire humanoid robot industry, inspiring further research and development.
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A More Diverse Lineup
The World Humanoid Robot Games boasts a significantly larger and more varied roster compared to the earlier semi-marathon, attracting humanoid robot enterprises from numerous cities across China. For instance, Suzhou-based Magic Atom Robot Company, which missed the semi-marathon due to exhibition commitments, has eagerly joined this event with its humanoid robot set to compete in running, high jump, and long jump disciplines. The company’s team emphasized that such extreme sports challenges provide invaluable data for refining the humanoid robot’s balance algorithms, motor output, and structural design, ultimately driving technological progress through real-world testing. Another participant, Shanghai Fourier Robot Company, approaches the games with a spirit of sportsmanship, viewing the event as a unique opportunity for technical exchange among humanoid robot developers under standardized rules. This collaborative atmosphere fosters a sense of community, where humanoid robot teams share insights and strategies to overcome common obstacles.
Adding to the diversity, Shenzhen Wanshi Future Company, an educational科普基地, has brought a team including middle school students, such as the 13-year-old Ma Shunze, who has trained extensively with humanoid robots in preparation. This inclusion highlights the growing accessibility of humanoid robot technology, as younger generations engage in hands-on development and competition. The presence of such varied participants—from established corporations to academic institutions and young enthusiasts—enriches the humanoid robot ecosystem, promoting innovation through diverse perspectives. Moreover, the expanded lineup features humanoid robot models tailored for different applications, from industrial uses to educational tools, demonstrating the versatility of humanoid robot platforms. As these humanoid robots compete side by side, the games become a melting pot of ideas, accelerating the cross-pollination of technologies that benefit the entire humanoid robot field.
The international scope of the event, though focused on Chinese teams, hints at the global potential for humanoid robot competitions to drive standardization and interoperability. By bringing together humanoid robot creators from various backgrounds, the games encourage the adoption of best practices and common frameworks, which could eventually lead to more seamless integration of humanoid robot systems worldwide. This diversity in participation not only showcases the current state of humanoid robot development but also plants the seeds for future collaborations that could propel humanoid robot technology into new frontiers. The humanoid robot games, therefore, serve as a microcosm of the industry’s evolution, where innovation thrives through collective effort and shared goals.
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Technological Breakthroughs on Display
Beyond traditional running events, the games feature disciplines like long jump and high jump, which demand precise control and stability from humanoid robots. Songyan Power’s humanoid robot “N2” and its upgraded counterpart “E1″—standing 1.36 meters tall with enhanced leg design for maneuvers like turns—exemplify this push toward versatility. As Qin Bangyu explained, success in jumping events requires not only covering distance but also maintaining balance upon landing, which involves fine-tuning joint control precision and power management through advanced algorithms. This focus on accuracy and posture control presents a significant challenge for humanoid robot engineers, as it tests the limits of current technology in real-time scenarios. Similarly, the humanoid robot “Adam,” developed by Boaonike Robot Company and already deployed in educational and research settings for over a year, has undergone intensive training and parameter adjustments specifically for the games. According to Liang Qijun, the company’s brand director, this preparatory process has accelerated technological breakthroughs, highlighting how competitive pressures drive innovation in humanoid robot capabilities.
The humanoid robot “E1” represents a leap forward in dynamic motion, with its taller stature and optimized limb coordination enabling more complex actions. For jumping events, engineers have integrated sensor fusion techniques and machine learning models to improve the humanoid robot’s ability to predict and adjust its trajectory mid-air. This reduces the likelihood of falls and enhances overall performance, making the humanoid robot more adaptable to unpredictable environments. In the case of the humanoid robot “Adam,” software updates have focused on reinforcement learning algorithms that allow it to learn from repeated attempts, gradually refining its movements for maximum efficiency. These advancements are not merely academic; they have practical implications for deploying humanoid robots in settings requiring agility, such as disaster response or logistics, where stable landings and precise motions are critical.
Moreover, the games underscore the importance of energy efficiency in humanoid robot design, as extended competitions drain battery life quickly. Teams have responded by incorporating regenerative braking systems in joints and using lightweight materials that reduce overall power consumption. For example, the humanoid robot “Xingzhe II” employs energy recovery mechanisms that capture kinetic energy during deceleration, redistributing it to prolong operational time. Such innovations are essential for expanding the utility of humanoid robots beyond controlled environments into real-world applications where endurance is paramount. The humanoid robot industry’s focus on these technical challenges during the games accelerates the maturation of technologies that will eventually benefit commercial and industrial humanoid robot deployments, making events like these crucial testing grounds for future breakthroughs.
Ultimately, the participation of humanoid robots in sports is not about mere spectacle but about exploring their full potential across diverse scenarios. Each jump, sprint, or balance test provides data that informs improvements in humanoid robot design, from hardware durability to software intelligence. As humanoid robot developers analyze performance metrics from the games, they can identify areas for enhancement, such as faster processing times for real-time decision-making or more robust materials for impact resistance. This iterative process, driven by competitive spirit, ensures that humanoid robot technology continues to evolve, inching closer to the day when humanoid robots can seamlessly assist in everyday tasks. The World Humanoid Robot Games, therefore, stands as a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence in the humanoid robot field, where every competition brings the industry closer to its “awakening moment.”
The collective efforts at the World Humanoid Robot Games highlight a shared vision among developers: to advance humanoid robot technology through practical challenges. As humanoid robots from various backgrounds compete and collaborate, they push the boundaries of what is possible, driving innovations that will soon translate into broader societal benefits. The event not only celebrates current achievements but also sets the stage for future developments, where humanoid robots could become integral partners in fields like healthcare, manufacturing, and daily assistance. With each iteration, the humanoid robot community moves closer to realizing the full potential of these machines, making the games a pivotal moment in the ongoing evolution of humanoid robot technology.