Rapid advances in humanoid robotics, particularly in China, are opening up new opportunities for practical applications, Toby Walsh, a Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, has said.

The second World Humanoid Robot Games is scheduled to take place in Beijing from Aug. 22 to Aug. 26, attracting 666 teams and 2,056 robots from 16 countries. Organizers said this year's games will feature more than 30 events, including newly added long jump, weightlifting, tug of war and table tennis, which are designed to test robots' motion control, structural design and core components.

"The mechanical side of humanoid robotics is advancing rapidly, most especially in China," said Walsh, chief scientist at the UNSW AI Institute.

Walsh told Xinhua that humanoid robots could be particularly useful working alongside humans in factories. He also pointed to China's large manufacturing base as an important advantage in developing robots for use in China and overseas.

NineRay Technology unveiled its newest industrial humanoid robot in Hong Kong on Aug. 17. Dubbed RayNex G3, the model demonstrated the ability to carry a 50-kg load and is designed for tasks such as heavy-load handling and material transfer.

Walsh said the model's load-carrying capability could expand the range of tasks humanoid robots can perform.

"50 Kg is a heavier load than a human can easily carry. Therefore, such robots as this open up new opportunities," he said.

As mechanical capabilities of humanoid robotics improve, Walsh said, further progress in artificial intelligence would also be important for wider practical use.

"The big question though remains around the 'brains.' Will we see similar advances in the AI to control such robots?" Walsh said.