China's First AI Robot Fighting Competition Demonstrates Advanced Combat Robotics

Four AI-enhanced robots competed in China's first robot fighting competition, showcasing their abilities in kickboxing bouts until a champion emerged. The Rolex Robot Competition Mecha Fighting Series saw four units from China-based Unitree, each controlled by humans, face off in three rounds lasting two minutes each, with points awarded through a system that valued punches, kicks, falls, and extended down times. The robots, weighing 35 kilograms and 132 centimeters tall, were programmed with AI to learn fighting movements based on motion capture data from sports athletes, blending pre-taught techniques with human control. During the event, one robot managed to KO its opponent with a front kick, after which it also secured the victory in the finals by outscoring the competition. The event, livestreamed on CCTV, demonstrated advancements in AI learning and robot motion in combat scenarios, with a subsequent full-sized robot event scheduled for December in Guangdong Province.