A series of robot malfunctions and demonstrations in August highlighted both the entertainment value and safety concerns surrounding increasingly public robotics showcases, particularly at Beijing’s World Robot Humanoid Games.

– Robots competing in running, boxing, jumping, weightlifting and tug-of-war frequently fell, collided, sparked or broke down.
– Footage included two running robots emitting sparks, one catching fire, and near misses involving a bystander and a weightlifting judge.
– A robotic barber was shown giving a poor haircut while using a sharp tool close to a customer’s head.
– Another robot reportedly thrashed uncontrollably after its handlers’ control device failed.
– The article also noted a Chinese LiDAR-and-laser system intended to detect and kill mosquitoes.