China starts 'world’s first' robot combat league with $1.44M prize

China has launched the Ultimate Robot Knockout Legend (UKRL) in Shenzhen, touted as the world’s first free humanoid robot combat league. The competition features EngineAI’s T800 humanoid robots, provided at no cost to participants, with a grand prize of a $1.44 million gold championship belt. The league aims to run a tiered competition through December 2026, showcasing robots capable of advanced martial arts moves such as side kicks and aerial rotations. The T800 robot boasts aviation-grade aluminum construction, an active cooling system, and sophisticated multi-modal sensing combining LiDAR and stereo cameras for real-time environmental awareness. Its high-torque joint motors enable dynamic combat maneuvers, reflecting significant technological advancements in Chinese robotics. Experts view the UKRL as a strategic effort to raise public awareness and accelerate the practical deployment of humanoid robots across China. By providing T800 robots free to smaller companies and research bodies, the league fosters collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions, helping to