In the center of the stadium's boxing ring, two G1 robots from Unitree faced off in a gripping match. Standing around 130 cm tall and weighing roughly 35 kg, they donned professional boxing gloves and helmets. Mirroring human fighters, the robots exchanged left and right hooks, executed side kicks and knee strikes, and nimbly dodged incoming blows. Even when knocked down, they rose unassisted and continued the fight.
Deng Huasheng from Unitree said that in freestyle combat sports, hardware durability is just as crucial as software algorithms. "If the structure can't withstand impacts, it will fall apart. And if the balance algorithm fails, even a slight push can topple the robot."
In the five-a-side soccer final and three-a-side soccer final, the four teams fielded T1 robots from Beijing-based Booster Robotics. These robots can autonomously assess their surroundings and execute complex actions like trotting, tackling, shooting, and defending entirely on their own. Achieving this requires not only lightweight yet resilient hardware capable of withstanding impacts, but also sophisticated real-time perception, advanced motion control, cognitive decision-making, and seamless multi-agent coordination.
According to Zhao Weichen, vice president of Booster Robotics, robot soccer represents the most fundamental universal testing ground for technology. The capabilities honed by humanoid robots in soccer scenarios, such as mobility, perception algorithms, positioning and navigation, as well as decision-making logic, all hold potential for real-world applications in both daily life and professional scenarios.