The World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing, where a Chinese-made robot set a new 100m record of 9.39 seconds. Hitomin, a robot from Japanese company GMO Internet Group, made its debut, while the competition was marked by unpredictable incidents, including a collision with a wall in the semifinals.
The World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing, China, with more than 2,000 robots from 16 countries taking part. The opening ceremony featured marching soldiers and dancing, and the venue came alive with demonstrations of advanced machines.
Soon after the opening, a running robot made by a Chinese manufacturer recorded 9.39 seconds in the 100m, beating Usain Bolt’s human world record regardless of gender. A total of 51 events, including athletics and ball games, were contested, along with a 2.88-metre vertical jump event.
Hitomin, the only Japanese entrant and a robot from GMO Internet Group, completed the 400m in 1 minute 55 seconds but lost its balance and fell after crossing the finish line. In the semifinals, the Japanese robot veered off course and hit a wall, while competitors from other countries raced for speed.
Many of the robots at the event were still under development, and one robot was unable to stop under its own power in the 100m, crashing into a cushion and being wrecked. At the same time, events aimed at applying robots to everyday tasks, including restaurant service, were also held, and competition in development toward practical applications is expected to intensify further.