China launched the three-day World Humanoid Robot Games, aiming to highlight its progress in robotics and artificial intelligence with 280 teams representing 16 nations.

Robots participated in sports like track and field, and table tennis, while also facing robot specific tasks that included sorting medications, managing materials, and providing cleaning services.

Teams arrived from various nations like the United States, Germany, and Brazil, with 192 representing universities and 88 from private companies including China’s Unitree and Fourier Intelligence.

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Rival teams employed robots from manufacturers in China like Booster Robotics. A member of Germany s HTWK Robots team from Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, said, “We come here to play and to win. But we are also interested in research.”

During one football match, four robots collided into each other and fell in a heap of limbs and metal. In the 1500-metre running event, one robot suddenly fell while running at full speed, drawing gasps and cheers from audience.

Although they often fell and needed human help to get back up, numerous robots successfully regained their balance on their own, receiving cheers from viewers. Organizers stated that the competitions offer important chances for data collection to enhance robots for real-world uses like industrial labor.

Commentators stated that football matches train robots  coordination skills, which may be beneficial for assembly line tasks needing cooperation among various units. China is investing billions of dollars into humanoids and robotics as the nation faces an ageing population and growing competition with the U.S. in advanced technologies.   

The event will last three days, concluding on Sunday. Tickets sold to the public range from 180 yuan ($25) to 580 ($80).