In a striking demonstration of robotics technology, China showcased a humanoid robot named Kuavo during the torch relay for the 15th National Games in Shenzhen. The 1.47-meter‐tall biped carried a 1.6 kg torch over about 100 meters, running with a lifelike stride and seamlessly passing the flame between runners, reports South China Morning Post.
Developed by Leju Robotics in Shenzhen, Kuavo’s performance illustrates China’s intent to showcase humanoid robotics not just in labs or factories but in public spectacle. The relay leg served as both a promotional stunt and a statement about the nation’s broader ambitions in AI and automation.
The article points out that the event is more than symbolism. China’s industrial-robot output has surged, with 595,000 units produced in the first nine months of 2025, up nearly 30% year on year, and surpassing all of 2024. The torch-bearer robot thus becomes part of a narrative linking consumer, service, and humanoid robots to China’s next industrial phase.
From an engineering view, the demonstration raises questions: balancing motion stability, power, and autonomy in a public environment is nontrivial. Moreover, using a sports-oriented platform to highlight robotics conflates athletics and machine capability unusually. But it sends a clear message: robotics is moving beyond factories into emotionally charged, visible applications.
For content creators and engineers in automation or robotics, this moment offers a case study in the use of high-visibility events to communicate technological leadership. The blending of human-centric sports ritual (the torch relay) with a humanoid robot reveals how engineering achievements are being framed in public cultural narratives.