On the evening of August 22, 2026, the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games officially opened at the National Speed Skating Oval "Ice Ribbon" in Beijing. Compared to the inaugural event, the scale of this year's Games has expanded significantly, with leapfrog growth in both the number of participating teams and robots. The number of events has also increased from 26 in the first edition to 51. More notably, there are changes in the event setup: high-intensity competitive events such as long jump, weightlifting, tug-of-war, and table tennis have been included in the official competition for the first time, and scenario-based events have been extended to nine real-world environments including industrial, home, and hotel settings. The dynamic explosive power, whole-body coordination, and impact resistance of humanoid robots are directly put to the test on the public arena. If the first Games primarily showcased the "athletic capabilities" of humanoid robots, the second edition is pushing the boundaries further to test dynamic interaction, complex manipulation, and AI computing power. The upgrade in competitive dimensions imposes higher requirements on underlying perception technologies. Whether it is the explosive power output at the instant of a long jump takeoff, the joint torque distribution during weightlifting, or the collision force perception in football confrontations, force control technology is becoming a key variable determining the robots' performance on the field. In this year's Games, Kunwei Technology made its debut as the sole officially designated force control technology service provider. Its three major product lines—6-axis force sensors, joint torque sensors, and sports biomechanics force plates—provide force-control technical support for the Games from multiple levels, including end-effector perception, joint actuation, and venue evaluation.
01. Now That Robots Are Participating in the "Games", What Exactly Are They Competing In? Unlike laboratory environments, in the arena environment, whether walking, running, carrying, assembling, or competing, humanoid robots must face more dynamic variables. The ground is not always perfectly ideal, loads will change, parts have tolerances, and mechanical structures will undergo micro-deformations. Sudden collisions may also occur during movements. Changes in the body's center of gravity and the dynamic output inside the joints will all generate real-time changing forces and torques. This means that the world the robots face is no longer completely deterministic. The newly added tug-of-war event in the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games is a very typical example. This tug-of-war competition adopts a two-on-two format, with two teams of robots competing within a designated track. During the match, the robots not only need to pull the rope towards their side but must also maintain body stability, avoiding center-of-gravity shifts or even tipping over caused by the continuous horizontal pulling force exerted by the opponent. Relevant technical personnel for the event also pointed out that the tug-of-war project tests the comprehensive capabilities of robots in motion control, force perception, multi-robot collaboration, and autonomous AI decision-making. From the perspective of robot control, this is actually a typical dynamic force interaction problem. The robot needs to know how much force the opponent is exerting and how the direction of the force is changing; at the same time, it also needs to know what kind of load each of its own joints is bearing, and adjust its body posture and output accordingly. The same logic also appears in the newly added dexterous hand special event of this year's Games. Tasks such as power tool assembly, powder weighing, picking up beans with tweezers, and opening bottles and prying off caps may seem to involve only hand movements, but they actually involve multiple capabilities such as visual recognition, motion planning, grasp control, and contact force adjustment. The robot not only needs to "see clearly" but also needs to "control accurately", "hold steadily", and "operate precisely", achieving the leap from simple grasping to complex and fine manipulation. It can be said that the arena is a real environment full of uncertain physical interactions. Robots must be able to "read" forces to complete movements and avoid failures, which is precisely the value of force control technology. Kunwei's three product matrices are precisely built around the needs of robots for force perception and force control at different application stages, constructing a layered solution.
02. 6-Axis Force: Enabling Robots to Know "What They Have Touched" When humans perform an action, they rarely rely solely on vision. When picking up a cup, we not only see where the cup is but also feel whether it is being grasped; when pushing open a door, we can feel the changes in the door's resistance; when our feet step on the ground, our body also adjusts its balance based on the feedback from underfoot. For robots, these "feelings" all need to be accomplished by sensors. The 6-axis force sensor solves a very critical layer among them. The value of the 6-axis force sensor is not simply "measuring one more parameter", but enabling the robot to retain the ability to continue judging and adjusting after contact occurs, truly endowing the robot with the perception capability of its own state. 6-axis force is not a story Kunwei has only started telling today; it is a foundation that has already been validated by the market. The structure of humanoid robots is extremely similar to that of humans. The space in areas such as joints, wrists, and ankles is extremely limited, yet they simultaneously need to bear high rigidity and high overload performance within a limited volume. This requires the 6-axis force sensors used for them to strike a balance between "miniaturization" and "high performance". Kunwei proactively captured this trend and began laying out the R&D of MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) processes in 2020, dedicated to overcoming the core bottlenecks of 6-axis force sensors in miniaturization, low cost, and mass production. After years of technological accumulation, the company officially launched a series of 6-axis force sensor products based on MEMS strain gauges in 2025, effectively breaking through the problems of excessive manual labor proportion and persistently high costs in traditional production. At the same time, the unique structure of MEMS has significantly improved the yield and efficiency in mass production, exerting efforts from both cost reduction and capacity expansion perspectives, laying a solid foundation for the future scaled mass production of humanoid robots. Through continuous refinement of structural design and manufacturing processes, Kunwei has launched the HRS humanoid series 6-axis force sensors specifically crafted for the wrists, ankles, and feet of humanoid robots. This series features an ultra-thin size with a minimum thickness of 10mm and an anti-overload capacity of over 300%FS. Its repeatability accuracy is better than 0.1%FS and its comprehensive accuracy is better than 0.3%FS. It can perfectly adapt to miniaturized integration and high-dynamic motion scenarios, and is now supplied in batches to leading humanoid robot companies such as UBTECH, AgiBot, Galbot, Xiaomi, and Xinghaitu. This means that a certain proportion of the competing robots on the field at this year's Games have Kunwei's 6-axis force sensors equipped at key end-effector nodes such as their wrists and ankles. Relying on the original dual-path core technology of "structural decoupling + algorithmic decoupling", coupled with self-developed fully automatic 6-axis combined loading calibration equipment, Kunwei's products achieve synchronous suppression from the underlying structure and data algorithms, realizing low cross-talk errors between dimensions. Currently, Kunwei has built a complete product matrix with diameters covering 36mm to 200mm and measurement ranges covering 30N to 10KN. It adapts to diverse assembly spaces and force measurement conditions, encompassing the HRS humanoid series, HPS high-performance series, KWR precision series, and CSR standard series, covering diverse application scenarios from high-end humanoid robots to industrial automation. Beyond processes and products, scaled delivery capability is another barrier for component enterprises. At this stage, the humanoid robot industry is characterized by multi-model and small-batch iterations, making some production processes difficult to standardize. To this end, Kunwei launched the self-development of flexible automated production equipment three years ago to complete production line capability building. By the end of June 2026, the company's annual production capacity for 6-axis force sensors has reached 60,000 units, and it plans to increase the annual production capacity of 6-axis force sensors to 120,000 units by the end of December 2026, while simultaneously building an automated production line with an annual capacity of 300,000 joint torque sensors in 2026, which can meet the customized and batch order requirements of multiple customers in parallel. The comprehensive advantages in technology, products, and production capacity have accelerated the landing of Kunwei's 6-axis force sensors in the humanoid track. As humanoid robots further advance from end-effector manipulation to whole-body coordination, Kunwei has also begun to push force perception into the internal body of the robots.
03. Inward Perception: Mining the Incremental Value of Whole-Body Force Control If the 6-axis force solves: What happens when the robot contacts the outside world?, then the joint torque sensor solves: What is the robot's own body enduring? This is another change emerging in the force control system of humanoid robots. When a robot demonstrates an action, what people see most easily is the hand—the hand grasping objects, holding tools, and completing assembly. But what truly completes the action has never been just the hand. The joint torque sensor is key hardware that can enable robots to shift from rigid position control to compliant force control, realizing complex tasks such as grasping fragile items and obstacle avoidance to prevent falls, and achieving millisecond-level safe stopping during collisions. Therefore, the force control battlefield for humanoid robots does not exist solely at the end-effectors. Integrated inside the robot's joints, the joint torque sensor directly collects the actual joint torque, providing the control system with first-hand data on the body's force bearing. Based on this data, the system can perceive subtle changes in joint forces in real time, realizing compliant motion, safe collision avoidance, and adaptive load adjustment. In the weightlifting event, throughout the entire process of the humanoid robot grasping the barbell, standing up, exerting force, and stably lifting it overhead, every joint such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle requires precise torque perception to "sense in real time" how much force it is outputting. In a multi-degree-of-freedom, high-dynamic system like a humanoid robot, the joint torque sensor can directly measure the actual torque borne by the joint, providing more direct feedback to the control system. Simply put, without joint torque feedback, the robot can only exert force according to the "plan"; with joint torque feedback, the robot can adjust its force output based on actual conditions. Kunwei's joint torque sensor, specially developed for robot integrated joints, adopts a hollow shaft or flange structure, with diameters covering 34mm to 146mm and measurement ranges covering 3 N·m to 545 N·m. The representative model KWR86N80 achieves a repeatability accuracy of 0.1%FS, a comprehensive accuracy (including linearity and hysteresis) better than 0.15%FS, a zero-point temperature drift of ≤0.05%FS/10 °C, and the system can perceive micro-torque changes at 0.03%FS level. At the same time, Kunwei's joint torque sensor products integrate high-precision strain gauges, temperature compensation circuits, and digital converters into the sensor body, abandoning traditional split signal conditioning modules and greatly simplifies the internal wiring of the joints. Relying on the design concept of balancing "high rigidity" and "high sensitivity", it effectively reduces the negative impact of elastic deformation of the transmission chain on the positioning accuracy of the whole machine. Currently, the products have been applied in batches inside the joints of humanoid robots, collaborative robots, and industrial robots, and can collaborate with end-effector 6-axis force sensors to build a "joint + end-effector" full-link force perception capability. This is also an important reason why joint torque is becoming a new increment beyond Kunwei's 6-axis force business.
04. From the Robot's Body to the Competition Venue, "Force" Begins to Become Quantifiable Data 6-axis force and joint torque sensors belong to the perception hardware integrated on the robot body, while the 3D force plate (motor function performance testing system) is external testing equipment deployed on the venue floor, serving as an important hardware carrier for judging assistance in this event. In traditional sports training, coaches usually rely on experience to judge whether an athlete's movements are standard and whether their force exertion is reasonable. The evaluation methods are more based on "observation" and "experience". However, given the growth of sports science, relying solely on manual judgment can no longer meet the needs of refined training and competitive analysis. How to quantify sports performance through objective data has become an important direction for improving training efficiency. The motor function performance testing system is precisely a product developed in this context. This equipment is usually composed of a pedal, high-precision sensors, and a sturdy base. It can collect mechanical information generated during movement, and is particularly suitable for analyzing the dynamic force application of the lower limbs in sports such as running, jumping, throwing, and weightlifting. It is an indispensable and powerful testing tool. Given the advancement of sensor technology, data processing capabilities, and analysis software, the force plate has become an important tool in sports biomechanics research and competitive training. The 3D force plate is a core precision equipment meticulously created by Kunwei, specifically for the dynamic performance testing of legged robots and humanoid robots, providing stable and precise measurement tools for various related testing scenarios. Through an embedded multi-dimensional force sensor array, the 3D force plate can collect in real time the 3-axis ground reaction forces (Fx, Fy, Fz) and 3-axis torques during the interaction between the robot's foot end and the ground, and further parse key parameters such as landing impact force and gait cycle. Based on these data, the equipment can quantitatively evaluate the balance performance and foot-ground interaction mechanical characteristics in dynamic movements such as walking, running, and jumping, providing high-fidelity experimental data support for gait planning algorithm iteration, stability control strategy verification, and foot structure optimization. Focusing on the needs of robot motion testing, Kunwei has independently developed portable and fixed high-precision 3D force plates and motor function performance testing systems. The products cover different measurement ranges and size specifications, which can meet the motion performance testing needs of different types of robots. In competitive event scenarios such as the Robot Games, the value of the 3D force plate is further highlighted. In events such as high jump, long jump, and weightlifting, this equipment can provide full-process mechanical data support for the events, including real-time recording of the peak resultant force, impulse, and power output during the takeoff and push-off phases, synchronously capturing key parameters such as flight height, flight time, and landing impact, providing objective quantitative judgment basis for event referees. At the same time, the sports mechanics data collected during the testing process can also help the R&D team further analyze the performance of robots under extreme motion states, promoting the continuous optimization of motion control capabilities. At the same time, the 3D force plate can also synchronize and link with optical motion capture systems to realize kinematics-dynamics fusion testing, providing reliable quantitative experimental data for the motion control of humanoid robots and quadruped robots, as well as the R&D of embodied intelligence algorithms. In addition to the sensors mounted on the robot body, Kunwei Technology has also extended its force control technology to the venue evaluation end. Its sports biomechanics force plate products, including the 3D force plate and motor function performance testing system, mainly provide judging assistance data support for competitive scenarios such as long jump and weightlifting in this year's Games.
05. Force Control Technology Drives Humanoid Robots Towards Practical Application The World Humanoid Robot Games is not only a competitive exhibition but also a comprehensive review of the technological capabilities of humanoid robots. When events such as long jump, weightlifting, and tug-of-war are included in the competition, and when 2,056 robots compete on the same field at the "Ice Ribbon", the industry is witnessing a critical leap of humanoid robots from the laboratory to real-world scenarios. On the field, AI large models are responsible for thinking and decision-making, but what truly brings robots into reality is precisely the physical feedback brought by force perception. No matter how powerful the algorithm is, it needs real force data to perceive collisions, distribute torques, identify loads, and complete self-correction of movements. The value of the Games has never been just about medals and winning or losing, but more about bringing the physical interaction challenges of the real world onto a public stage, completing joint practical combat tests of components, algorithms, and whole machines, and fulfilling the industrial mission of "setting standards through competitions and promoting production through standards". The competition at the Ice Ribbon will eventually come to an end, but the iteration of force perception technology will not stop. The technological experience accumulated on the field will, in the future, step out of the arena and feed back into thousands of industries such as industrial assembly, home services, and healthcare assistance. Only when robots truly learn to "read" forces can they truly understand this physical world, completing the transition from "only executing preset trajectories" to "adapting to real-world changes".