In an unprecedented event, realistic humanoid robots engage in combat during the world’s inaugural humanoid robot battle competition, featuring four Chinese teams clashing with their advanced robotic fighters.
Hosted by the Chinese Media Group (CMG), the “World Robot Tournament – Mecha Combat Arena” took place in Hangzhou, China, on May 25th and was broadcast nationally on China’s state-run CCTV-10 Science Channel. This tournament marked the debut of Unitree’s G1 Humanoid Robot, Spur, which showcased its ability to deliver punches and evade strikes by swiftly dodging.
Four teams represented by colors—black, pink, green, and red—competed, each employing distinct strategies to maneuver their robots. The green team, led by electrical engineer Hu Yunqian, dubbed the “Power Core Guardian,” for instance, adopted a steady, inch-by-inch advance strategy to outsmart their rivals.
During the match, the team opted for remote control via a gamepad, which introduced a delay between issuing commands and receiving robot responses, a limitation compared to other control modes such as artificial intelligence (AI) Voice Control and Motion Sensing, as explained by a Unitree representative.
Conversely, the leader of the pink team, Jiao Tianqi, known as “The Silk Artisan,” implemented a strategy focused on “muscle memory accuracy,” emphasizing rapid reflexes to overwhelm opponents with aggressive attack speed.
According to a Unitree representative, the G1 humanoid robot boasts multi-axis movement capabilities, allowing for precise maneuvers. It can unleash punches using its shoulder joints and execute kicks through its hip and knee joints. Additionally, the G1’s arms feature seven degrees of freedom, mimicking human-like movement with various rotations at the shoulder and wrist and flexible elbow motions.
Humanoid robots necessitate specialized algorithms and sensors to maintain balance during complex movements. Unlike humans who intuitively learn balance from a young age, robots require precise programming to achieve stability while executing various tasks.
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The G1 showcases the advancements researchers have made, demonstrating not only the ability to strike effectively without toppling over but also the capability to maintain balance while delivering kicks and dodging blows. The combat scenarios presented a significant physical challenge for the robots.
Unitree has trained the G1 to maintain balance during these fights using enhanced AI training methods. This reinforcement training involved feeding large datasets to teach the optimal behaviors, which were then configured with real-time balance sensors, allowing the G1 to remain stable autonomously or with human guidance.
To promote stability in combat situations, Unitree conducted several training sessions that involved the robot absorbing hits from various angles while maintaining its standing position. Additionally, the robots were trained with learned techniques that aided in balance, such as lowering their center of gravity through leg movements and using arm gestures for stabilization.
Looking ahead, Unitree has stated that future tournaments will feature robots equipped with advanced motion sensing control systems to enhance the immersive experience of combat.
Source: www.livescience.com