The 48th World Skills Competition is being held in Shanghai from September 22 to 27, featuring 64 competition categories and 1,385 participants with an average age of 21. During the opening ceremony, the artistic director, Hou Jie, highlighted the interactive segments involving humanoid robots, including a full-sized robot performing intricate finger dances and waltzing with dancers, marking a global premiere.
These robot performances required extensive preparation, with a dedicated training area of over 300 square meters established in Lingang. To synchronize the robots with the stage rhythm, 18 imaging devices captured human dance movements, which were then programmed into the robots. Challenges included the robots' weight causing damage to the stage and overheating issues due to inadequate costume ventilation, which affected rehearsal schedules.
As the rehearsals progressed, the distance between dancers and robots decreased from 50 meters to a close performance, showcasing their ability to dance together. The opening ceremony featured an aerial control system with over 200 suspension points and a giant mortise and tenon mechanical device, which was a highlight of the event. This device, weighing 200 tons, will remain as a permanent art installation at the Shanghai Global Celebrity Museum after the competition.
Editor's Note
The integration of humanoid robots into live performances at the World Skills Competition reflects a growing trend in robotics and AI within entertainment and event production. This showcases advancements in technology adoption and the potential for robots to enhance human creativity in various applications, including performance arts and interactive experiences.
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