There’s a very real concern that robots could eventually make some of our jobs obsolete. But at a robot-only sports competition in China over the weekend, the immediate concern was that they would fall over or crash into each other.
The Humanoid Robot Games, a three-day event in Beijing that ended on Sunday, featured more than 280 teams from universities and private companies in 16 countries. Some robots landed back flips and successfully navigated obstacle courses and rough terrain.
In other cases, the robots’ athletic ability left, well, something to be desired.
During soccer matches, child-size ones tripped over each other, falling down like dominoes. One goalkeeper robot stood placidly as its opponent kicked a ball at its legs several times before finally managing to score.
One robot by China’s Unitree Robotics plowed into a human staff member while sprinting during a track event, knocking him down.
In kickboxing matches, robots wearing colorful gloves and head gear struggled to land punches.
“To be honest, the hit rate is a little low,” a commentator said in the event’s official livestream. “They’re punching the air.”
After a few minutes of flailing jabs and kicks, the referee declared one robot the winner. It raised its gloved hands and pumped them in the air to the sound of spectators applauding, while its opponent laid down in an apparent show of defeat.
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The post The Athletes at China’s Robot Games Fell Down a Lot appeared first on New York Times.
