World's first humanoid robot boxing match kicks off in China

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The China Media Group (CMG) World Robot Competition - Mecha Fighting Series, the first-ever humanoid robot fighting tournament, opened in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, on Sunday, as contestants, including robots developed by Unitree Robotics armed with a wide range of combat skills, gathered for a livestreamed showdown, while putting on display Chinese robotics firms' tech prowess. 

This competition marks a historic moment as it is the world's first combat sports event centered around humanoid robots, signaling the gradual integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into combat sports, the CMG report said, noting that all humanoid battlebots are equipped with domestically developed technologies. 

The competition includes demonstration and competitive matches, with humanoid robots showcasing combat moves and robots controlled by humans in real-time fighting in the arena, according to the organizer. 

Unitree Robotics, a prominent player in the humanoid robot industry, is the partner in the match. During the event, robots demonstrated boxing one-on-one and in groups, displaying their moves and capabilities for their exhibition session.

Four human operator teams controlled the robots to compete in a tournament-style series of boxing matches. 

Driven by rapid advancement in embodied intelligence, China's humanoid robots are evolving at an accelerated pace, extending their reach into both industrial and household applications. According to the Chinese Institute of Electronics, China's humanoid robot market is projected to reach 870 billion yuan (120 billion U.S. dollars) by 2030. 

World's first humanoid robot boxing match kicks off in China

A member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) gave a popular science lecture on China's bridge development at Beijing University of Technology on Thursday as part of the CPPCC member lecture event held across various sci-tech sectors.

Qin Shunquan, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced the current achievements and innovation status of bridge construction technology in China from discussing the basic bridge structure to outlining the development process.

Qin also presented the new demands facing bridge construction in the new era and their corresponding solutions, outlined the cutting-edge trends and transformative approaches in China's bridge development, and engaged in an interactive Q&A session with the audience.

Attendees said they benefited a lot from the exchange of ideas with Qin.

"Academician Qin answered my questions from three aspects. I will consider pursuing a degree in bridge engineering," said Zhou Hang, an undergraduate student majoring in transportation engineering at Beijing University of Technology

"As researchers, we should write our papers on the land of our motherland, making our own small contributions to the country," said Xiu Zhao, a PhD student in civil engineering and hydraulic engineering at Beijing University of Technology.

More than 400 people, including some CPPCC members, university and middle school students, and science and technology workers, attended the lecture.

CPPCC member gives popular science lecture on Chinese bridges in university