China: CRAIC 2026 humanoid robot finals held in Beijing
emphasis on interactive development with large language models. By integrating technologies such as embodied intelligence and OpenHarmony, the event tested teams’ skills in image recognition, path planning, and related research and development.
Key takeaways
- The most recent developments in humanoid robotics show a surge of commercial, industrial, and policy activity.
- In August 2026, Chinese EV maker BYD announced it will debut functional humanoid robots at its Di Space event, positioning itself to compete directly with Tesla’s Optimus and other entrants such as Xpend, which plans a 1,000‑unit rollout in 2027.
- Meanwhile, Italian startup Generative Bionics has launched Gene.01, a fully sensorized humanoid with smart skin that can detect touch, temperature, force and the approach of nearby workers, aiming to reduce collisions in industrial settings.
- China’s 28th China Robot and Artificial Intelligence Competition (CRAIC) held its national humanoid finals in Beijing, drawing over 350 robots from 213 teams and featuring the first full‑size humanoids operating without remote control in realistic industrial scenarios.
- In the United States, Walden Robotics announced a partnership with Toyota to develop practical, wheel‑based humanoids for human‑centric workplaces, while a New York high‑school pilot of a silicone‑skinned teaching robot named Sally was paused amid privacy concerns, prompting state legislators to introduce a bill banning humanoid robots in schools.
emphasis on interactive development with large language models. By integrating technologies such as embodied intelligence and OpenHarmony, the event tested teams’ skills in image recognition, path planning, and related research and development. It also provided a practical battleground for groups pursuing different technological approaches. Shotlist: Beijing, China - Aug 1, 2026: 1. Various of 28th China Robot and Artificial Intelligence Competition (CRAIC) National Finals of Humanoid Robot Special Competition in progress; 2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Li Zixiang, participant, Xi'an University of Technology (partially overlaid with shot 3): "We were deeply impressed by this competition, because the industrial setting is quite different from our lab environment. When we continue our research at real-world settings. It is expected that within about five years, embodied intelligence will achieve broad application in multiple domains." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; 6. Competition in progress [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]; China - July 30, 2026 7. Man shaking hands with robot; 8. Various of robots performing. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland] National Finals of the Humanoid Robot Special Competition kicked off Saturday in Beijing. A total of 213 teams from more than 100 universities brought about 350 robots to the competition. The machines showcased autonomous skills in multi‑terrain driving, intelligent obstacle avoidance, and part‑sorting, all achieved through environmental perception. As a competition covering full-size, medium-size and small-size humanoid robots, the event has transitioned from a purely academic contest into a practical gateway for identifying and cultivating industrial talent. Notably, this year marked the first time full‑sized humanoid robots competed entirely without remote control. The competition recreated real‑world industrial scenarios such as high‑risk inspection missions, production‑line loading
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