China to Hold First Humanoid Robot Olympics

    Robot makers around the world can show off their creations and compete in the first International Humanoid Robot Olympic Games next June in China's northeastern city of Harbin.

    More than 100 universities from about 20 countries are expected to compete in 16 events in five categories, including track and field, balls, combat, dancing as well as domestic service such as cleaning and medical care, said Hong Rongbing, a professor with Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and an official with the China National Conference of Artificial Intelligence.

    Unlike other games that allow both wheeled and humanoid robots, this event accepts only android robots designed in human forms, with two legs and two arms, he said.

    The ultimate goal of the games is to make robots intelligent and flexible enough to serve people at home.