SZ-made robots play 2,000-year-old instruments to open National Games

In a fusion of ancient heritage and cutting-edge technology, three humanoid robots played a set of 2,000-year-old bronze instruments Sunday night, marking a historic first for the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games.

The ceremony, held at Guangzhou Olympic Sports Center, began after three Walker S2 robots, developed by Shenzhen company UBTECH, struck eight bronze goudiao bells excavated from the tomb of the Nanyue King in Guangzhou. The performance featured the well-known Chine folk song “Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon.”

Three humanoid robots developed by Shenzhen company UBTECH play a set of 2,000-year-old bronze instruments Sunday night, marking a historic first for the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games. Photo courtesy of event organizer

This performance represents the first time humanoid robots have been featured as guest performers at the opening of a major national sports event in China. It is also the first documented instance globally of humanoid robots performing music on millennia-old bronze ritual instruments.

The goudiao bells, dated to the Ninth Year of Emperor Wen of the Western Han Dynasty, are considered treasures of ancient Chinese ritual culture and bronze casting technology. They carry unique cultural significance for the Lingnan region.

Playing these instruments is a complex task, requiring precise control over the striking position and force to produce their clear, ancient melodies—a challenge even for skilled human musicians.

The successful autonomous performance by the Walker S2 robots was presented as a significant test of their precision and control capabilities. Organizers framed the act as a deep integration of China’s millennia-old cultural heritage with advanced humanoid robotics.

Beyond the opening ceremony, UBTECH’s humanoid robots are scheduled to be deployed in various operational roles throughout the games. According to the company, they will provide smart services at competition venues, the Main Operations Center (MOC), and the main media center.

The humanoid robot Walker S2 was designed to allow for 24/7 operation without human intervention for charging.

At the heart of Walker S2 lies BrainNet 2.0, UBTECH’s new dual-loop AI control system. This neural framework integrates a cognitive-level Co-Agent with real-time motion intelligence, enabling the robot to simultaneously reason, plan, and act across dynamic industrial environments.