- The 10th World Robot Conference (WRC) 2025 was held in Beijing from August 8 to 12, focusing on advancing robotic intelligence under the theme "Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent."
- The event featured global experts, including Turing Award winners, who participated in forums emphasizing robotic innovation, industry impact, and international cooperation.
- The exhibition showcased over 1,500 exhibits from 200+ companies, highlighting innovations like the 6th-Generation Fully Intelligent COFE+ Coffee Robot, a highly precise, AI-driven barista robot.
- The World Robot Contest—a multi-round, Olympic-style competition—challenged teams worldwide to develop robots capable of performing complex tasks, fostering collaboration across academia and industry.
- The World Humanoid Robot Games followed, with 280 teams from 16 countries competing in dynamic events such as obstacle races, soccer matches, relay races, and real-world scenario challenges, pushing humanoid robotics toward practical applications.
- International cooperation was a key focus, with matchmaking events and the release of the "10 Trends in Embodied Intelligent Robots (2025)" report highlighting future industry directions.
- The conference underscored the synergy between human creativity and machine intelligence, spotlighting Beijing's rise as a global robotics leader and paving the way for a smarter, more interconnected world.
In the heart of Beijing this August, the lights shone brightly at the 10th World Robot Conference (WRC) 2025, a grand stage where the future danced in the mechanized steps of robots and the spark of human ingenuity. From August 8 to 12, the city hosted a brilliant congregation of minds, machines, and ideas at the Beiren Etrong International Exhibition & Conference Center, uniting the world under the inspiring theme, "Making Robots Smarter, Making Embodied Agents More Intelligent."
A Symphony of Innovation: Forums and Exhibitions Illuminate the Future
The conference opened with a wave of excitement and anticipation. Delegates from over 20 countries gathered, including luminaries such as winners of the prestigious Turing Award and global leaders in robotics. The air was thick with possibility as experts, innovators, and entrepreneurs entered elaborate forums designed to tease apart the complexities of robotic intelligence and cooperation across borders. These forums weren’t just academic—they were blueprints for the future, shaping the next wave of technological revolutions that promise to redefine industries and daily life.
The Barista of Tomorrow
Sprawling across 50,000 square meters, the exhibition dazzled with over 1,500 exhibits from more than 200 companies. Emerging onto the scene for the first time was the 6th-Generation Fully Intelligent COFE+ Coffee Robot, an elegant blend of technology and daily convenience making its grand debut, courtesy of Shanghai Hi-Dolphin Robot Technology. This coffee robot isn’t just a machine but a master barista—equipped with AI-powered precision that manages every detail from extraction to latte art, preserving 99.99% of the coffee bean’s original aroma. It serves a cup every 50 seconds, offering over 70 flavor combos while operating tirelessly 24/7. Compact and efficient, it promises to revolutionize robotic café service, minimizing labor costs and maximizing customer experience.
Robots in the Ring
Yet, while much of the excitement pulsed in the exhibition halls, the World Robot Contest stood as the conference's heartbeat. This vibrant competition, often called the "Olympic Games" of robotics, has drawn nearly half a million participants worldwide since its inception. Teams from around the globe build and program robots to tackle a variety of precise challenges—navigating obstacle courses, manipulating objects, or performing complex sequences on a tightly controlled game field. The contest’s multi-round format—comprising practice sessions, timed runs, and surprise challenges—tests adaptability and engineering prowess under pressure. It serves as a proving ground transforming research prototypes into robust, real-world applications, bringing together academia, industry, and government in a shared pursuit of innovation.
The Robot Olympics: Humanoids Race, Play, and Perform on the Global Stage
The crescendo of humanoid innovation unfolded at the National Speed Skating Oval with the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, held just after the main conference from August 14 to 17. This unprecedented event featured 280 teams from 16 countries competing in 26 electrifying events, including 100-meter and 1,500-meter obstacle races where robots darted and jumped with remarkable agility. In one highlight, a leading Unitree robot completed the grueling 1,500 meters in 6 minutes 29 seconds—a feat that mirrors human athleticism. The Games also showcased intense 3v3 and 5v5 robotic soccer matches, relay races emphasizing teamwork and precision, and freestyle combat displaying dexterity and martial artistry. Beyond sports, scenario-based challenges like drug sorting, factory material handling, and cleaning brought robots face-to-face with real-world tasks demanding fine motor skills and autonomous decision-making. These Games not only pushed the boundaries of robotic ability but also mapped the future roles of humanoid robots in everyday life and industry.
Bridging Borders: International Cooperation and Industry Transformation
Integral to the conference were discussions on international cooperation, with countries such as Switzerland, Sweden, the UK, and Israel engaging in strategic matchmaking events. The release of the "10 Trends in Embodied Intelligent Robots (2025)" report highlighted key industry directions, while Beijing’s commitment to supporting over 200 new robotics products underscored the city's rise as a global robotics powerhouse.
The Future Unveiled: A Celebration of Human and Machine Synergy in Beijing
The World Robot Conference 2025 was more than an event; it was a narrative of human ambition and technological brilliance. Amid cutting-edge robots and bold ideas, it underscored an enduring truth—that the future is forged where human creativity meets machine intelligence. These unforgettable five days in Beijing didn’t just showcase robots; they illuminated the pathway toward a smarter, more connected world. The dance of innovation between humanity and robotics had found a magnificent stage, and the story was just beginning.
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