The 2025 RoboCup Asia-Pacific Qingdao Invitational Tournament officially opened on Sept 8 as a key feature of the 2025 East Asia Marine Expo. The event brought together nearly 400 participants from 84 teams, representing 12 countries and regions, including China, Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, and Russia.

The competition demonstrated a range of advanced robotics and the potential for innovation in the field. Visitors were captivated by events such as the RoboCup Humanoid Robot Soccer (3v3), RCAP Humanoid Robot Soccer (5v5), the Smart Search and Rescue Challenge, and CoSpace Autonomous Driving.

The humanoid robot soccer players particularly impressed the audience with their full autonomy, making their own decisions without human remote control. They smoothly turned their heads to locate the ball, advanced with quick steps, and took decisive shots at the goal.

Running alongside the competition was Qingdao's "AI+" application exhibition featured 20 leading companies and university research institutions. The exhibition highlighted groundbreaking technological achievements and a variety of robots.

One humanoid home service robot, capable of smoothly handing over a cup of water and shaking hands, drew admiration from the crowd, offering the public a firsthand glimpse of the future of AI in daily life.

The tournament and exhibition provided a dynamic platform for technical exchange and a clear example of how robotics is set to transform industries and everyday life.

A home service robot demonstrates its ability to provide gentle service with its flexible arms. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A humanoid robot sitting on a chair. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Robotic players engage in a football match. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]