China’s humanoid robots generate more soccer excitement than their human counterparts
 

While China’s men’s soccer team hasn’t generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown.

Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China’s capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing.

According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision.

Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility

They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience.

China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground.

Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems.

He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots.

“In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,” Cheng said. “For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn’t matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.”

Source : https://apnews.com/article/robots-foootball-china-ai-d49a4308930f49537b17f463afef5043

Comprehension

What kind of soccer match took place in Beijing?
How many robot teams participated, and how many players were on each team?
What made this match different from regular robot matches?
What did the robots use to find the ball and move on the field?
What happened when some robots fell down during the match?
Why is China using sports to test humanoid robots?
What is Cheng Hao’s company, and what did it provide?
Why does Cheng Hao say safety is important for robots playing with humans?
What future idea did Cheng mention for robot and human interaction?
What is the purpose of these competitions for robot development?

Discussion

Would you watch a soccer match between robots? Why or why not?
What do you think are the advantages of robots being able to act like humans?
Do you think robots will ever replace human athletes? Why or why not?
What could be the dangers of humanoid robots interacting with humans?
How can AI competitions help develop better technology?
Do you think it’s possible to trust robots in the future? Why or why not?
Would you feel safe playing sports with a robot?
What other real-life activities could robots learn to do?
How can countries make sure robots are used safely and ethically?
How do you feel about technology becoming a bigger part of sports?

Vocabulary

Humanoid – having a human shape or appearance
Autonomous – able to work or move by itself without human control
Intervention – involvement or action by someone (especially to stop or help something)
Visual sensors – tools that help machines "see" using cameras or light
Agility – the ability to move quickly and easily
Stretcher – a bed or frame used to carry injured people (or robots, in this case)
Proving ground – a place or situation where something is tested
Emphasize – to give special importance or attention to something