The world's first humanoid robot fighting competition closed Sunday in east China's Hangzhou City, with humanoid robot "AI Strategist" emerging victorious after a fierce showdown.
Titled the China Media Group (CMG) World Robot Contest: Mech Combat Arena Competition, the event kicked off with a performance match on Sunday evening.
In the later combat matches, each session consisted of three rounds, with two minutes for each match. Points were awarded based on effective hits to specific zones: 1 point for striking with the arms, 3 points for knocking with the legs. Any hit on the head or torso of the opponent was valid. A knockdown incurred a 5-point penalty, and failure to stand up within 8 seconds led to a 10-point penalty and immediate disqualification.
The first match featured "AI Strategist" operated by Lu Xin against "Silk Artisan" operated by Jiao Tianqi. In the first round, "Silk Artisan" scored with agile leg strikes and suppressed its opponent with side kicks. The second round saw both sides engaging in knee strikes. In the third round, "AI Strategist" delivered a decisive knee blow, knocking down the opponent and securing victory.
In the second match, "Armored Mulan" operated by Chen Liangyu faced "Energy Guardian" operated by Hu Yunqian. "Energy Guardian" achieved an early knockdown in the first round. After a stalemate in the second round, "Armored Mulan" accidentally fell at the beginning of the third round, and "Energy Guardian" won the match with its stable performance.
"The robots could execute continuous combination punches, backhand strikes, side kicks and knee attacks. This was truly eye-opening. I never expected our country's robots could perform such agile movements. I believe [robots] will have tremendous potential across various industries and daily life applications in the future," said Sui Jiamin, an onsite spectator. In the final showdown, Lu's "AI Strategist" defeated "Energy Guardian" with knockouts in all three rounds, winning the championship title.
"Today marks a historic moment. This competition is just a beginning. We have endless possibilities for humanoid robot applications ahead," Lu said.
The event was live-streamed globally with experts providing live commentary and discussions, explaining the principles behind motion control and real-time decision-making in robotic combat.
"I can envision the scalability of robotic technology. Currently, robots demonstrate 7-8 skills [under human direction.] The next phase will transition from manual skill selection to developing trained neural networks and creating intelligent agents capable of autonomously determining skill combinations. Competitions like this serve as multidisciplinary convergence points, attracting experts across fields to spark the cross-pollination of ideas that drives true innovation," said Li Gaofeng, researcher of Zhejiang University "Hundred-Talent Program".
The fighting competition is part of the CMG World Robot Competition Series, which will also feature robot football and basketball games. The series aims to spotlight regional robotics industries and promote the integration of science, culture, and tourism. Designed to be both educational and entertaining, it showcases cutting-edge robot technology in a thematic and visually engaging format.
"AI Strategist" emerges victorious in CMG robot fighting competition
