Humanoid robot folds in half after crashing into barrier during pre-Olympics training run in Beijing

A humanoid robot training for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing crashed into a protective barrier at full speed, bending its body nearly in half. The incident occurred during a practice sprint just one day before the official competition, which starts on August 22.

Video of the accident, which quickly went viral on social media, has amassed over 13 million views. The footage shows a bipedal robot running down a track. As it approaches the end of the lane, the machine fails to brake in time and slams into a soft barrier at high velocity. The impact causes the robot's torso to sharply fold at the joint connecting the upper body and legs, after which the machine collapses onto the track. Sparks are visible at the moment of collision.

The model and developer of the robot have not yet been identified, and the exact cause of the failure remains unknown. Observers on social media have speculated that the computer vision system may have misjudged the obstacle or that the control algorithm initiated braking too late.

The second World Humanoid Robot Games, also referred to as the "Robot Olympics," are being held in Beijing over five days. The event features 666 teams from 16 countries, with approximately 2,056 robotic systems registered. The program includes 30 sports disciplines and 21 tests simulating real-world scenarios, such as tasks in home environments and hotels.