Brazilian Researchers Test AI on Chinese Humanoid Robots at WHRG in Beijing

A group of young researchers from five Brazilian universities, dubbed “Team Brazil,” is competing in the 5-on-5 humanoid robot soccer event at the second World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG) in Beijing. Rather than building the machines themselves, the team uses the T1 platform supplied by Chinese robotics firm Booster Robotics. The researchers concentrate on the software layer—perception, localization, motion planning, balance control and decision-making—so the robots can detect the ball, coordinate movements with teammates and execute kicks.

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Booster Robotics’ T1 humanoid is marketed as a development platform. It offers 23 degrees of freedom: six in each leg, four in each arm, two in the head and one at the waist. The head houses a depth camera, a microphone array and a speaker, while the control electronics and battery reside in the torso. This configuration supports walking, interaction, motion control and a range of research applications, including the demanding task of robot soccer, which requires continuous interpretation of sensor data and real-time coordination of multiple joints.

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The five-day WHRG this year features 51 events—30 competitive contests and 21 scenario-based challenges—up from 26 events at the inaugural 2025 competition. China accounts for the overwhelming majority of entries, with 1,975 robots from 641 teams, involving 157 companies and 200 universities and research institutions, according to China.org. Organizers note that the total number of participating robots has roughly quadrupled from the previous year. In addition to athletic tests such as running, jumping, weightlifting, martial arts, gymnastics and soccer, scenario challenges simulate workplace tasks like industrial production, logistics, emergency response, retail, office services, hospitality, household chores and electric-vehicle charging.

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By leveraging an established hardware platform, the Brazilian researchers can devote more effort to advancing embodied AI algorithms. Success in the soccer arena demonstrates integration of perception, balance and decision-making, which are essential for future humanoids intended for real-world environments. The broader WHRG agenda—testing both athletic prowess and practical task performance—highlights the industry’s shift from showcase demonstrations toward evaluating software reliability and functional utility in everyday settings.

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As WHRG continues to grow in scale and complexity, teams like Brazil’s are likely to deepen their focus on AI and control software, while hardware manufacturers refine platforms to support increasingly sophisticated autonomous behaviors. Continued international collaboration, exemplified by Brazilian coders working on Chinese robots, may accelerate progress toward humanoids capable of reliable operation in diverse real-world scenarios.

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