Chinese humanoid robots stage 'steel showdown' in Riyadh

Riyadh (People's Daily) - Chinese humanoid robots staged a high-tech "steel showdown" in Riyadh on Wednesday, with two teams of humanoid robots battling in the ring in what organizers described as the Middle East's first humanoid robot combat event.

Humanoid robots compete in a combat match during the CyberHero x Riyadh event on Wednesday. The competition marks the Middle East's first humanoid robot combat event. (Photo: Hero Esports)

The event, CyberHero x Riyadh, marked the debut of CyberHero, a new global series of humanoid robot sports events launched by Hero Esports. The company said it plans to bring similar events to eight cities across the Middle East, Europe, the Americas and Asia.

The Riyadh event offered a first look at the competition format and the potential combination of humanoid robotics, esports and live entertainment.

The competition featured T800 humanoid robots developed by Chinese robotics company EngineAI. Standing about 1.73 meters tall and weighing between 75 and 85 kilograms, the T800 has 29 articulated joints and can walk, run, punch, kick, turn and recover after falls.

Unitree humanoid robots dance during a performance at the CyberHero x Riyadh event in Riyadh on Wednesday. The event brings together humanoid robotics, esports and live entertainment. (Photo: Hero Esports)

Inside a purpose-built arena, the robots competed in a series of one-on-one bouts controlled by human operators. The competition tested the robots' movement, balance, reaction speed and ability to perform combat actions in a live environment.

A panda robot and an AgiBot humanoid robot perform during the CyberHero x Riyadh event on Wednesday. The event is part of an initiative to showcase new forms of artificial intelligence and robotics competition. (Photo: Hero Esports)

Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, welcomed Riyadh's selection as the first host city, saying the event reflected the enthusiasm of Saudi audiences and the country's continued development of esports and entertainment.

Audience members interact with Chinese-made robots at the CyberHero x Riyadh event in Riyadh on Wednesday. The event attracted local fans eager to experience high-tech robotics entertainment. (Photo: Ren Haoyu/People's Daily)

At the center of the competition is a team-based format involving three roles: builders, who design and engineer the robots; coders, who develop and train the software systems; and drivers, who control the robots and make real-time decisions during matches.