In a world first, China has taken further strides in showcasing its prowess in robotics and artificial intelligence after a humanoid robot completed a torch relay segment with lifelike running movements.
Advertisement
The 1.47-metre-tall biped, named Kuavo, ran about 100 metres while holding a 1.6kg torch in its right hand.
It received the flame from retired badminton champion Yu Yang at Shenzhen’s Civic Centre on Sunday and passed it to the next runner, Wang Yuning, a local high school student with a passion for rocket science.
The event formed part of the 2025 National Games torch relay, which spans Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, and features 200 participants drawn from sports, education and technology circles.
While this was not the first time robots have joined a games relay, none of the previous displays could hold a torch to Kuavo.
Advertisement
A bipedal machine featured at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea’s Pyeongchang, but its role was largely a controlled demonstration – walking briefly and cutting through a wall on cue.
Robots were showcased at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic relay and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics – the first using a wheeled design and the second an underwater model – however, neither matched Kuavo’s advanced autonomy, stability or motion control.