LAS VEGAS: At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, humanoid robots are stepping into the spotlight in an entirely new kind of competition.
Piloted by humans, these robots trade punches and kicks in MMA-style matches, combining thrilling entertainment with advanced motion-capture technology, and offering a glimpse into the future of robotics in sports and performance.
The robots, mirroring the movements of their human “pilots,” exchanged punches and kicks in bouts that combined curiosity and excitement for spectators. Unlike the typical CES lineup of wheeled machines with destructive tools, these human-like combatants brought a fresh approach to robotic entertainment.
UFB organizers are betting that humanoid robots will captivate fans by transforming traditional demolition-style contests into mixed martial arts-inspired matches. A human referee even addressed the robotic fighters as though they were human athletes, adding a layer of realism to the spectacle, according to AFP.
“This is the sport of the future,” said Vitaly Bulatov, co-founder of UFB, alongside his wife, Xenia. The couple, hailing from Russia, hopes fans will connect with the “human stories” of the pilots controlling the robots.
Commands to kick and punch were relayed from human pilots ringside using a combination of cameras and motion-sensing Nintendo controllers. Cameras captured every move in real time, which the robots then attempted to replicate—sometimes with amusingly inaccurate results. Spectators laughed at wild misses and cheered when a blow successfully landed.
“With some more advancements, it could definitely become more entertaining, as you see in movies like Real Steel,” said Esteban Perez, a 25-year-old IT worker from Denver attending the event.
While today’s bouts may lack the cinematic flair of the 2011 science fiction film starring Hugh Jackman, UFB events have already sold out in cities such as San Francisco, drawing crowds of young tech enthusiasts.
“It is definitely better than MMA,” Bulatov said, referring to mixed martial arts bouts. “It’s very hard to knock him out,” he added, gesturing toward the ring.
Beyond the entertainment value, the bouts provide valuable opportunities to collect human motion data, which can be used to refine robot software. “I’m excited to just see what the entertainment value is…also the characteristics of the different robots,” said Yael Rosenblum, project manager for the Atlas humanoid robot built by Boston Dynamics, attending the event with colleagues.
