Before Chinese robot firm Unitree can make good on its claim that a machine can outrun Usain Bolt, it needs to work on getting the bot to stop after crossing a finish line.

Athletic feats are impressive, but useful robots must be able to adapt, recover from mistakes and handle the unexpected.

Robots competed to unpack delivery boxes using a utility knife at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on August 24, with scores based on how many boxes each robot could open in five minutes.

Humanoid machines boxed, danced and tackled everyday tasks at the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing. China's World Robot Conference showcased humanoid machines performing sports, entertainment ...