The second World Humanoid Robot Games were held from August 22 to 26 in Beijing, China. This event brings together teams from around the world to test their robots across more than fifty different competitions. Last year’s inaugural games featured over five hundred robots from two hundred and eighty teams competing in twenty-six events.
This year’s event has grown significantly with more than two thousand robots presented by six hundred and sixty-six teams from sixteen countries, according to Mashable. Events include traditional sports like floor gymnastics and soccer, as well as tasks in hotels, factories, and hospitals. Some competitions require full autonomy, while others allow remote control but reduce scores by half. Beijing officials said the final program had 30 competitive events and 21 scenario-based events.
The games are described as a multidimensional competition combining sports, art, and practical applications. Chinese robotics companies Unitree and X-Humanoid were top performers last year. Unitree won four gold medals in track events in 2025, while X-Humanoid won 10 medals overall, including two golds. X-Humanoid’s Tiangong won the 100-meter sprint last year in 21.50 seconds.
This year’s event also includes new challenges such as tug of war and outdoor firefighting and rescue tasks. Robots were tested on tasks like collecting book returns and placing them correctly in a library setting, according to a report from Ars Technica. Other events included cleaning rooms, moving luggage, and handling deliveries.
Some robots were required to perform household chores like washing laundry and folding clothes. While the races are exciting, they also show how far robots still are from general-purpose autonomous robots capable of handling practically any task. Robots in races often lack the ability to slow down or stop safely after reaching a finish line.
Some robots broke apart or caught fire during sprint events. Another robot was seen running in a strange posture during a race, which became viral online. Unitree had previewed a new prototype nicknamed “Superman” shortly before the games. This robot was only in development for a little over three months and has room for improvement. That development timeline came from Unitree and was not independently verified.
The headline 100-meter result came from X-Humanoid’s Tien Kung Ultra, which won the large-group final in 8.64 seconds. That was faster than Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second human world record, although robot performances are not part of the human athletics record system. Tianzhuo Team also won the 1,500-meter race in 2 minutes 21.64 seconds, compared with the winning time of 6 minutes 34.40 seconds at the first games.
Teams had prepared early at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval. Some robots were seen practicing in advance, with videos spreading online.
The games also include events like breakdancing and cheerleading where robots must act independently. These races show impressive progress in robotic control but still lack the intelligence to handle complex situations safely. The games highlighted both the commercial potential and technological limits of humanoid robots. Official rules required fully autonomous performances in the dance events with no remote human intervention.
Some competitions are designed to test how well robots can adapt to changing tasks like bringing a delivery package inside. Robots were also tested in a scenario involving hazardous materials and fire suppression. Only three out of twelve teams completed the full firefighting challenge.
The event is meant to promote innovation and collaboration in robotics development. It also provides a platform for companies to gain attention from investors and the public. The competition ran from August 22 to 26 in Beijing.
This year’s event includes both fast-paced races and more practical applications. The races may be entertaining but they also highlight the need for better safety controls in robotics. Even last year’s games had incidents with robots reportedly not finishing or even leaving the starting line.
Reuters reported this week that X-Humanoid is now trying to move the technology behind Tien Kung into commercial services, light industrial work and emergency rescue. The company has already started early industrial trials while engineers continue working on braking and adaptability.
The event is a mix of fun and serious testing for the future of robotics.
IMAGE: RuinDig/Yuki Uchida 31 October 2025, 18:23:34 CC4