Latest news with #ChengHao
Canada News.Net
15 hours ago
- Science
- Canada News.Net
Robot soccer thrills China as humanoids outperform national team
BEIJING, China: China's national soccer team may struggle to stir excitement, but its humanoid robots are drawing cheers — and not for their athletic prowess. In Beijing, four university teams sent AI-powered robots onto the soccer pitch over the weekend in a fast-paced 3-on-3 tournament that delighted crowds and marked a first in China. The fully autonomous matches—with no human control or intervention—offered a glimpse of what the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing might look like. According to organizers, each robot operated independently using advanced AI strategies, making real-time decisions on movement, passing, and positioning. Equipped with high-tech visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball, navigate the field, and even recover after falls. Still, not all could stay upright—several had to be carried off on stretchers, a moment that drew both laughter and admiration from the audience. The tournament reflects China's broader push to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports as a proving ground. From boxing to marathons to soccer, competitions are being designed to test real-world applications of robotics in dynamic environments. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics — which provided the robot hardware — said sports offer the ideal pressure test for both hardware and software systems. "In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe," Cheng said. "For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe." All four university teams used the same Booster robot models, but each developed its own algorithms for perception, strategy, and passing. Cheng explained that schools program variables like speed, force, and direction to give their teams a competitive edge. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team 5–3, winning the inaugural championship. "They (THU) did really well," said Mr. Wu, a Tsinghua supporter who attended the event. "But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises." The event stood in sharp contrast to the fortunes of China's actual men's national team, which has only qualified once for the World Cup and has already been eliminated from the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Watch: Chinese robots stretchered off during failed AI football match
Chinese robots had to be stretchered off the pitch as the world's first AI football tournament descended into farce on Saturday. Four teams of humanoid robots powered entirely by artificial intelligence were pitted against each other for a series of three-a-side matches in Beijing, in what was touted as a preview of the city's World Humanoid Robot Sports Games in August. They were equipped with advanced visual sensors designed to identify the ball, navigate the pitch, tackle opponents and score goals. However, footage showed the robots clumsily bumping into each other, struggling to kick the ball and repeatedly falling over. On two occasions, human assistants were seen rushing onto the pitch to carry off robots that had gone to the ground and were unable to get up. The 4ft tall robots were provided by Booster Robotics and cost $29,800 to $49,000 each, depending on specifications. Cheng Hao, the CEO, said the event was an ideal testing ground for his machines, and that robots could even play against humans in the future. 'In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,' Mr Cheng said. 'For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn't matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
China hosts first fully autonomous AI robot football match
They think it's all over … for human footballers at least. The pitch wasn't the only artificial element on display at a football match on Saturday. The players were too, as four teams of humanoid robots took each other on in Beijing, in games of three-a-side powered by artificial intelligence. While the modern game has faced accusations of becoming near-robotic in its obsession with tactical perfection, the games in China showed that AI won't be taking Kylian Mbappé's job just yet. Footage of the humanoid kickabout showed the robots struggling to kick the ball or stay upright, performing pratfalls that would have earned their flesh-and-blood counterparts a yellow card for diving. At least two robots were stretchered off after failing to regain their feet after going to ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offered the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots. He said humans could play robots in the future, although judging by Saturday's evidence the humanoids have some way to go before they can hold their own on a football pitch. Cheng said: 'In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe.' The competition was fought between university teams, which adapted the robots with their own algorithms. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team with a score of 5–3 to win the championship. One Tsinghua supporter celebrated their victory while also praising the competition. 'They [THU] did really well,' he said. 'But the Mountain Sea team was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises.'
Euronews
2 days ago
- Sport
- Euronews
Photos: AI-powered humanoid robots play a football match in China
While China's men's football team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing – based more on the artificial intelligence (AI) technology involved than any actual athletic prowess. In China's capital on Saturday night, four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 football matches powered entirely by AI. It was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing. According to the organisers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision. Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience. The match was one result of China's stepped up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground. Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems. He also emphasised safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots. 'In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans,' Cheng said. 'That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe'.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Pitiful Chinese ‘footie robots' stumble through match in hilarious scenes – & one ‘injured' droid taken off on stretcher
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TEAMS of football-playing robots have been filmed fumbling around the pitch as part of a new tournament in China. The Beijing-based ROBO League football tournament saw teams of humanoid robots kicking, scoring and tumbling through matches on Saturday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Using AI in the robots means they can kick, dribble, plan, make decisions, cooperate and shoot completely on their own Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Four teams faced off in a series of three-on-three games, with the robots operating autonomously using artificial intelligence (AI). Visual sensors in the robots act as their eyes, so they can identify the ball navigate the field. Using AI in the robots means they can kick, dribble, plan, make decisions, cooperate and shoot completely on their own. Human research teams sat on the sidelines watching robots exercise their abilities in motion control, visual perception, positioning and navigation, decision-making, and multi-robot collaboration. The matches went ahead with little human intervention – besides a near pile-up when one robot fell over and nearly took out two others. But despite being designed to pick themselves up after falls, two robots still required stretchers from staff after 'injuries'. Other robots struggled to kick the ball. It is touted as China's first AI football competition. It offers a glimpse into the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games in August, which will also be held in Beijing. China is actively investing in AI and robotics, which is increasingly being utilised in sports. AI robot nurse with creepy 'face' taking over hospital jobs as it patrols halls, delivers meds and tracks patient vitals Cheng Hao, CEO of Booster Robotics, which supplied the robots, said competitions like these will help improve the robots more quickly. He also said that robots playing football with humans safely could build public trust in the future. Booster Robotics provided the robot hardware, while university research teams developed their own AI algorithms for perception, decision-making, and game strategies. In the final match, Tsinghua University's THU Robotics defeated China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea team 5-3.
