Weightlifting Robot Crashes Into Judges’ Table After Losing Balance At Beijing Robot Games
Robot loses balance during weightlifting final at Beijing games.
A humanoid robot lost its balance and crashed into the judges' table during the weightlifting final at the second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The incident took place on Monday and became one of the more dramatic moments of the competition, with the machine eventually being removed from the venue on a stretcher. The weightlifting event is designed to test robots' balance, joint torque and stability while handling heavy loads.
The second World Humanoid Robot Games features 51 competitions involving more than 2,000 robots representing 16 countries. The event is showcasing developments in humanoid robotics across a range of disciplines, while also highlighting the challenges involved in controlling machines during physically demanding tasks. The weightlifting competition in particular requires robots to maintain stability while lifting and handling barbells.
Despite the mishap, the Beijing Humanoid-HUST team secured the first gold medal of the event after its robot successfully lifted a 16-kilogramme barbell overhead. The successful lift demonstrated the capabilities being tested at the competition, even as the crash underlined the difficulties robots can face when balancing under load. The incident has added an unexpected element to an event focused on engineering and technological performance.
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The games have also attracted attention for developments in humanoid robot running. On Saturday, Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, won its 100-metre preliminary heat in 9.39 seconds, according to Reuters. The robot overtook Honor's Lightning towards the finish after initially falling behind, with Lightning completing the race in 9.47 seconds.
Both times were faster than the 9.58-second men's 100-metre world record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. However, the comparison is between a robot competition and the human athletics record, and the robot performances are part of a technology demonstration rather than official human athletics competition.
The latest results also represent a significant improvement from last year's inaugural games. Tiangong Ultra won the 100-metre event in 21.50 seconds during the first edition, compared with its 9.39-second performance this year. The contrasting moments of successful lifts, record-setting robot runs and unexpected crashes are highlighting both the rapid progress and continuing technical challenges in humanoid robotics.
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