Tesla Optimus rival Unitree shines at China’s world robot games

The first “World Humanoid Robot Games” is in the books.

The three-day competition hosted in Beijing wrapped on Sunday, attracting 280 teams from 16 countries, including the U.S. Teams used robots manufactured by Chinese companies such as Unitree and Booster.

During the games, humanoid athletes competed in dance battles, martial arts, track and field events such as the 400-meter and 1500-meter races and long jump, and a soccer tournament.

“Robots have stronger joints and core strength,” said Guo Tong, who programmed one of the futuristic footballers for his team, Hephaestus.

Guo said he sees robots replacing his idol, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, by 2050.

“Robots are easier to coach,” Chinese Olympic boxer Li Yang told CNBC while watching his robot slug it out with another. “Humans are emotional.”

Hangzhou-based Unitree, seen as a competitor to Tesla‘s Optimus, won multiple medals. Beijing-based X-Humanoid and Hong Kong-listed Shenzhen firm UBTECH also impressed.

The Chinese government has targeted humanoid robots as a key future industry for the economy and Beijing has plans to build a world-class industry of humanoid robots by 2027.

The games are the latest in a series of events and programs aimed at promoting humanoid robot technology. China announced plans to hold its second Olympics-style event for humanoid robots next August.

Robots also put job skills to the test, showcasing their abilities as drug store clerks, factory workers, and hotel staff.

One challenge for a robot in housekeeping was to pick up all the garbage in a mock hotel room and take out the trash. Referees told CNBC the biggest obstacle for those robots was opening and closing the door.

Robot designer Wang Xidong says the competition is key to testing the robots’ skills and improving them.

“We are refining our robots,” Wang said. “Everyone feels motivated to compete.”