From August 23rd to 24th, the National Finals of the Humanoid Robot Special Competition at the China Robot & Artificial Intelligence Contest were held in Hefei. As China's first full-scale humanoid robot competition, this pinnacle showdown brought together over 100 universities, more than 200 teams, and 320+ robots. It was not only an arena for technological competition but also operated on the core principle of "promoting learning through competition, fostering research through competition, and driving industry development through competition." This injected all-chain innovative vitality into Hefei's humanoid robot industry.

To promote learning through competition, it targeted cultivating talent urgently needed by the industry. Currently, while the humanoid robot industry is experiencing rapid growth, there remains a gap between what universities produce and actual enterprise demands; many students possess theoretical knowledge but lack practical experience. This competition addressed this issue by linking contest problems directly to real-world scenarios, guiding students away from the mindset of conducting research solely within laboratories towards solving practical problems.

"Through this competition, I gained a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of both the hardware and software of robots," said Li Jiongye, a contestant from Tsinghua University. He added that only after attempting real tasks did he realize how significant the gap is between simulation models and actual machine operation. Previously focused solely on parameters, he now understands that technology must be applicable in practice to be truly useful. To better align students with industrial realities, the International Center for Advanced Technology Application and promotion (Hefei) established an intelligent robotics scenario training platform before the contest. Working with the organizing committee, they provided professional guidance and organized "One Day at an Enterprise" visits for participating teams—taking them to companies. This allowed students to gain firsthand insight into corporate technical needs, production processes, and talent standards, gradually developing into versatile professionals suited to industry demands.

Many core technologies for humanoid robots often face the dilemma of being effective in laboratories but useless in real-world applications. This competition served as a practical "touchstone," driving technology from theory into practice. 

At the event site, five innovative challenge categories covered three sizes of bipedal robots—Kuavo (large), Roban (medium), and Aelos (small). Cutting-edge technologies like embodied intelligence and OpenHarmony were integrated into specific tasks. Whether it was dynamic obstacle avoidance across gravel paths simulating factory floors, or NFC identification and smart delivery within home settings, participating teams tested their technical stability and adaptability in authentic scenarios. Concurrently held main and breakout forums became intellectual fueling stations for tackling technical hurdles, bringing together academicians, industry leaders, and experts to jointly accelerate solutions for critical bottleneck issues facing the humanoid robot field.

Hefei's ability to host this high-profile event stems directly from its robust industrial foundation. Currently, over 170 companies across the robotics value chain have clustered here. This provides fertile ground for translating competition outcomes into real-world applications.

"The competition isn't the finish line; it marks the starting point for technology commercialization," explained Sun Dandan, Director of the Robotics Division at the International Center for Advanced Technology Application and promotion (Hefei). Post-event, top-performing teams—especially those with strong technical capabilities and high potential for deployment—will receive sustained follow-up. They will be connected with angel investors, seed funding sources, and incubation platforms to expedite their market entry, accelerating the leap from the "competition floor" to the "marketplace."

From precisely cultivating talent to driving technology commercialization, and fostering an integrated industrial ecosystem, Hefei is leveraging competitions to spark innovation and identify top talent. Simultaneously, by building upon robust public service platforms, opening up application scenarios, and providing strong policy support, the city is establishing a complete closed-loop ecosystem—one that spans from "technological breakthroughs" to "product launches" and onwards to "industrial clustering."

Source: Anhui Daily