Robots only play football on the Jetsons.
Posted on 02/17/2026 4:55:48 PM PST by nickcarraway
Developed by Chinese startups such as Booster Robotics, the AI-powered machines are part of a technology-themed temple fair in China. Humanoid robots are taking centre stage at Lunar New Year celebrations in Beijing, where they're performing lion dances, playing competitive football and preparing traditional snacks ahead of the Spring Festival. At a mall in western Beijing, 95-centimetre-tall robots rehearsed in colourful lion costumes, drawing crowds of onlookers. The performances are part of a technology-themed temple fair returning for a second year, showcasing China’s advances in artificial intelligence.
The robots - developed by startups including Booster Robotics - are taking part in fully autonomous 3v3 football matches.
"It is an AI environment, which means, once the whistle sounds, the remote control will all be put aside and all its decision-making and motion control are made by the robots themselves. There will also be teamwork. For example, a robot will be the goalkeeper, and the remaining robots will pass the ball to it, so this group decision-making is actually made by themselves," said Ren Zixin, the director of marketing at Booster Robotics.
(Excerpt) Read more at euronews.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Wondering who I am….
Chinese startups? Is that like government hedge funds?
bkmk
A Statue of Liberty play.
Sports item, circa 1974: Battling Maxo, B2, heavyweight, accompanied by his manager and handler, arrives in Maynard, Kansas, for a scheduled six-round bout. Battling Maxo is a robot, or, to be exact, an android, definition: 'an automaton resembling a human being.' Only these automatons have been permitted in the ring since prizefighting was legally abolished in 1968. This is the story of that scheduled six-round bout, more specifically the story of two men shortly to face that remorseless truth: that no law can be passed which will abolish cruelty or desperate need—nor, for that matter, blind animal courage. Location for the facing of said truth: a small, smoke-filled arena just this side - of the Twilight Zone.- Opening narration of the episode "Steel" of "The Twilight Zone."
Regards,
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.