Robots shift from athletes to workers

(ECNS) -- Robots sprinted, lifted weights and performed tai chi in Beijing this week — but the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games also tested how they handle real jobs.

Obstacle races measured speed, balance and coordination, while scenario contests put robots to work packing boxes, serving in offices and charging electric cars. Judges assessed fine manipulation, multitasking and safety in unstructured settings.

Organizers said the competitions are shifting focus from athletic feats to practical skills, highlighting how humanoid robots could one day support warehouses, offices and transport hubs.

"The arena is both a testbed and a guide for progress," said Gong Xiao of the China Software Test Center, urging audiences to look beyond rankings to the breakthroughs behind each grasp and reset.

(By Helen Mo & intern Xu Wenda)