In a world where humanoid robots can barely high-five without existential dread, enter Benjie Holson, VP of Engineering at Robust AI, who’s tossing down the gauntlet—or should we say, the greasy spatula—with his “Humanoid Olympics.” Disappointed by China’s robot kickboxing spectacle (basically synchronized flailing with extra servos), Holson wants bots that actually earn their keep: folding your undies, jamming a key into a lock, or—God forbid—peeling an orange without turning it into citrus confetti. He’s doling out real medals (bronze for door-dodging newbies, gold for sock-rolling savants) to any autonomous android that conquers chores like wiping counters with a soggy sponge or slathering peanut butter sans existential meltdown. Current tech? It’s teleop training via VR puppetry—humans yanking robot twins like deranged marionettes—but Holson calls BS on the limits: no wrist feedback means your bot’s as clumsy as a drunk uncle at karaoke, finger control’s deader than disco, and touch sensors? Might as well be Braille on a porcupine. Events range from “boss fight” pull-doors (use momentum or a spare arm, good luck) to wet ‘n’ wild pan-scrubbing, with a 10x time handicap because, hey, Rome wasn’t built in a firmware update. Winners get mailed swag and eternal glory; losers? Back to viral laundry-fold fails. Holson’s plea: Ditch the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em and build bots that’ll finally conquer your chore list—or at least not drop the PB&J knife in the sink. The gold medal awaits the robot that masters doors, drawers, and that one sock-eating dryer. Game on, gearheads—may your grippers be ever dexterous.
A Challenge to Roboticists: My Humanoid Olympics
