Next steps for robots

Chen emphasized that participating in international events like the WHRG and the RoboCup Humanoid League offers valuable opportunities to learn from peers worldwide.

Having placed top in the RoboCup Humanoid League soccer world championship in Brazil last month, Chen and his teammates were impressed by the decision-making and physical abilities of other teams' robots.

"In repeated encounters, both sides continuously improve their algorithms," Chen said. "Our robots now demonstrate stronger abilities than before when opportunities appear on the field."

Next, Chen and his team plan to focus on developing more advanced skills, like having robots accurately pass the ball to one another. "We might also consider participating in running competitions, as these are closely related to our soccer scenarios," he said.

During the games, Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics dominated the track and field events, including winning the gold medal in the 1,500-meter race.

The award-winning Unitree H1 robot is the same model that performed at the 2025 Chinese Spring Festival Gala.

Gao Yuan, an engineer with Unitree Robotics, explained that they usually test robots indoors using computers and other equipment. For the games, however, they accompanied the robots during running tests early in the morning and late at night — when temperatures were cooler — to better simulate real-world conditions.

Their hard work paid off. The team also claimed gold in the 4X100-meter relay, which Gao saw as a strong response to skeptics questioning the practical value of robotics.

"We are not just competing for medals. We want to showcase the elegance of robots through these mass-produced models," Gao said after the final. "More importantly, we want to show how the industry can develop in a healthy, sustainable way."

He also hoped that the public would appreciate the dedication and passion of all teams and robots, rather than cheering solely for the winners.

"Everyone is working hard to make the industry better, and I firmly believe that robots will become even more valuable in the future," Gao concluded.