This marks a striking leap forward from last year’s inaugural edition, which left many with memories of viral clips of robots freezing on the starting line or veering off course.

With athletic performance steadily improving, robotics entrepreneurs at the event emphasized the necessity to translate robotic prowess into real-world productivity. As purely demonstrative products are unlikely to secure orders, industrial and manufacturing sectors are increasingly expecting robots to deliver tangible results.

Reflecting this shift, 21 scenario-based contests are added this year, covering settings such as factories, hotels, homes and logistics facilities. Tasks ranging from industrial assembly and housekeeping to emergency rescue and library book sorting are designed around jobs that can be repetitive, physically demanding, dirty, dangerous, or difficult.