Part 14/17:
One standout was Unit’s H1 humanoid robot, which secured gold medals in 400-meter and 1500-meter races—albeit with times significantly slower than human world records. These competitions highlight the rapid progress in humanoid robotics, driven by billion-dollar investments from China as it seeks to counterbalance US technological dominance amid an aging population.
Engineers view the games as an experimental arena—better to fail in competition than expend millions on commercial failures, according to participating scientists. Over time, these events will refine robot intelligence and mobility, bringing humanoid robots closer to practical, real-world deployment.