Biomimetic robot contest final opens in Beijing to test cutting-edge smart technologies

The two-day final of a biomimetic robot contest opened in Beijing on Monday, bringing together 56 robots to test their capacity of imitating human and animal movements as well as integrated application of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technologies.

Focused on bionics technologies and held in Zhonggauncun, or China's Silicon Valley, the 2024 Zhongguancun Biomimetic Robot Contest includes four events respectively for humanoid biomimetic robots, multi-legged biomimetic robots, embodied large models, and other biomimetic robots. Altogether 101 teams participated in the preliminary and the semi-final and 56 robots entered the final.

The humanoid biomimetic robots participating in the event are tested by their resemblance to the human body shape and their capacity of reaching or even surpassing human locomotor ability. The event includes tests for racing, obstacle overcoming and operation.

"We are participating in the most difficult competition. Relying only on visual detection, our robot can complete the task of identifying the doorknob, opening the door, searching for the box, and moving the box. All the operations are done autonomously by the robot itself without any human interference," said Zhou Mingcai, a contestant.

For multi-legged biomimetic robots, their competitions are focused on biological movement mechanisms and environmental adaptations, with events set for racing, obstacle overcoming, and task completion.

For embodied large model competition, the event is intended to test the integration of cutting-edge AI and robotic technologies with the large model algorithm of the participating robots, which comprehensively tests the capabilities of large model algorithm and multi-modal interaction at home and under industrial scenarios respectively.

The event for other biomimetic robots has no requirement for their physical form and is designed to present the various capacities of biomimetic robots.

Biomimetic robot contest final opens in Beijing to test cutting-edge smart technologies

Biomimetic robot contest final opens in Beijing to test cutting-edge smart technologies

Biomimetic robot contest final opens in Beijing to test cutting-edge smart technologies

Biomimetic robot contest final opens in Beijing to test cutting-edge smart technologies

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that Israel's attack on Beirut "should not have happened," while the Israeli military said it will continue its operations in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that the Israeli military struck Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut's Dahieh suburb on Sunday, in response to firing into Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, Lebanese media reported an Israeli airstrike targeted a building in the Ghobeiri area in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The strike drew criticism from Trump, who said a regional peace deal, including Lebanon, was "very close" and urged all parties, especially Israel, to stand down.

"We are very close to a deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down," he wrote on Truth Social.

"This morning's attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran," he wrote.

Israel's Sunday strikes should not disrupt the diplomacy efforts for a U.S.-Iran peace deal, Trump said.

"There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel," the U.S. president added.

On the same day, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir, during his inspection of the Northern Command, said Israeli forces will continue military operations in Lebanon in an effort to secure more favorable terms in future U.S.-mediated negotiations between the two sides.

Zamir said the IDF's operations in key areas such as the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon were crucial, and that Israeli forces will continue their offensive and deepen their ground advance in necessary areas to eliminate security threats posed by Hezbollah.

He added that the IDF remains on high alert for potential developments on other fronts.

Trump says Israeli strike on Beirut should not have happened; Israel says it will continue Lebanon operations