Video: watson/nina bürge
June 21, 2026, 2:42 p.mJune 21, 2026, 2:42 p.m
A traditional annual dragon boat race took place in the Chinese city of Bazhong over the past weekend. The organizers had extraordinary helpers: humanoid robots. These belong to the “Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics” in the Chinese capital Beijing. They took part in the dragon boat race as part of several “energy relay races”, i.e. tests to see whether the robots can do what they promise.
On two boats there was a robot sitting next to people and rowing along. And the humanoid robots also pitched in on land. Check out the technical helpers in the video:
Video: watson/nina bürge
The robots are doing such “energy relay races” because the “World Humanoid Robot Games” are taking place in Zurich in September. There, humanoid robots and their manufacturers compete against each other. Practical disciplines test how good they really are. (nib)