The second World Humanoid Robot Games concluded in Beijing in early September 2026, hosting events including track and field, football, tennis, and table tennis. Co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal Government and China Media Group, the competition highlighted major advances in robot autonomy compared with last year's first edition.
The "Tiangong" robot from the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center shattered previous marks in the 100-meter sprint, posting 9.39 seconds in the prelims and 8.64 seconds in the final, both better than the human world record held by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
Unlike last year's remote-controlled robots, this year's competitors operated mostly autonomously, using real-time sensor fusion to track ball trajectories and produce millisecond-level predictions for shot selection. Judges and observers noted that improvements came from across-the-board upgrades in algorithms, software, and hardware.
The event also showcased "robot traffic police" deployed in Beijing, Ordos, Hefei, and Wuhu, capable of operating for 4 to 5 hours without human supervision. According to industry insiders, this is emblematic of robots entering the "production-grade" phase of practical service beyond exhibition demonstrations.
Source: CCTV / Yicai Global
