At the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG) in Beijing, 23 teams competed in a realistic simulated firefighting challenge aimed at testing whether humanoid robots can progress from impressive demonstrations to practical work in hazardous environments. Held at an actual fire brigade, the competition required robots to complete three tasks within 30 minutes: identify hazardous materials, locate and close open valves, and find and operate a fire extinguisher. The event exposed significant challenges associated with real-world deployment, including rain, changing lighting, object recognition, manipulation accuracy and movement speed. Of the 12 teams competing on Sunday, only three completed the full challenge, highlighting the gap between laboratory performance and reliable operation in unpredictable environments.
Despite these limitations, organisers and participating teams viewed failures as valuable opportunities for improving humanoid robotics. Data from unsuccessful object recognition, manipulation and motion-planning attempts can be used to refine algorithms and train AI models. The competition also demonstrated emerging approaches such as VR-based teleoperation, multi-jointed robotic hands and specialised actuators combining precision with strength. The event reflects China's broader effort to move humanoid robots and embodied AI into practical applications, particularly dangerous tasks such as emergency response. Ultimately, the objective is not necessarily to replace firefighters, but to develop robots capable of working alongside humans and undertaking operations where human exposure would be risky.
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