Robots crash to ground in tug-of-war at 2026 World Humanoid Games

Humanoid robots participated in a tug-of-war competition at the 2026 World Humanoid Games in China on Tuesday (25 August).

Teams of two robots on each side faced off, pulling on a rope in a test of power, stability and coordination.

Crowds watched as the robots struggled to keep their balance and fell flat on their faces.

The World Humanoid Games are being held in Beijing from 22 August to 26 August, showing advances in robotics are enabling machines to perform increasingly physical and complex tasks once associated mainly with humans.