China's Humanoid Robots Show Progress at WRC, Focus Shifts to Practical Use
TechNode reporter Lucia wrote this article, part of a series on China's humanoid robot industry. At the 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing (Aug 19-23), humanoid robots performed tasks such as cooking noodles in about a minute, preparing breakfast, climbing stairs, crawling over obstacles, and sparring in fighting cages. Elsewhere, robots sorted packages, fetched medicine, and simulated jobs from household chores to emergency rescue.
The conference, themed “Human-Robot Symbiosis, Production-Demand Convergence,” attracted 373 companies and displayed over 3,000 products, including 311 debuts and dozens of new technologies. The focus was on practical applications, with exhibitors demonstrating how robots could integrate into daily life and work environments.
Galaxea AI showcased several new models, including the Galbot ET1, G1, and S1. In a simulated home, the G1 made breakfast by toasting bread and pouring drinks. When a cup was moved mid-pour, the robot returned the pitcher to an upright position, relocated the cup, and resumed pouring seamlessly.
CASBOT brought a robot rock band to the show floor, with an electric guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and drummer. The four-machine ensemble performed Chinese rock favorites, including Beyond's “Glorious Years” and “Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies,” before playing an original track, “Heat Dissipation.”
The performance demonstrated not only individual robotic dexterity but also coordinated timing across multiple machines, hinting at future applications in entertainment and collaborative tasks.
Li-Gong demonstrated two LiDian F1 robots working together in a continuous industrial workflow. The robots disassembled parts, sorted and transported them, then reassembled and returned them to their original positions.
This showcase illustrated how embodied intelligence could streamline factory operations, offering potential improvements in efficiency and reducing repetitive manual labor.
Unitree's robots stepped into a fighting ring for kickboxing matches. In the 40-kilogram final, a team from North China Electric Power University remotely controlled a Unitree G1 to defeat another G1 operated by Unitree's own team, taking the championship. The result prompted Beijing Daily to headline the event with the playful word “Defeat.”
The match highlighted the growing sophistication of remote control and telesensing in humanoid robots, as well as their potential in sports and competitive arenas.
The show floor also featured a growing number of biomimetic robots from companies such as UBTECH, AheadForm, Noetix Robotics, and HokMind. These robots are increasingly humanlike, with developers refining body proportions, joint movements, facial expressions, skin, and hair.
This trend reflects a broader push toward creating robots that can interact naturally with people, particularly in service and caregiving roles.
Some memorable moments came from unexpected robot behavior. At the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing the same week, the 1.35-meter-tall Tiangong Omni won the small-size 400-meter race in 45.66 seconds. Its running style, leaning forward with arms raised close to its face, drew comparisons on Chinese social media to someone shyly covering their face while running.
The pose was not initially designed, but it became a viral talking point, showcasing how robot behavior can sometimes surprise even its developers.
The pose was not originally intended. Han Gang, a motion-control algorithm expert at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, explained that rapid arm swinging could place greater loads on shoulder joints, increasing heat and energy consumption over the 400-meter race.
Beyond the demonstrations, China's humanoid robot industry is entering a critical test: transitioning from stage showcases and small-batch trials to reliable, large-scale deployment in real-world settings. The conference served as a reminder that the ultimate goal is practical utility, not just spectacle.