National First Safety and Emergency Rescue Robot Competition Launches in Shenzhen

First National Safety and Emergency Rescue Robot Competition Launches in Shenzhen Responding to the Call of Life with Technology: Five Challenge Tracks Open Globally On 4 22, the inaugural Safety and Emergency Rescue Robot Competition, themed "Technology for Good, Life First," officially launched at FAIR plus 2026 in the Robot Full-Industry Chain Conference held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center. The competition rejects flashy demonstrations, instead presenting highly realistic extreme rescue scenarios to issue a "call for heroes" to universities, research institutes, and startups worldwide. With frequent natural disasters intersecting with urban risks, there is an unprecedented urgency for intelligent and unmanned rescue equipment. Guided by the Research Center of the Ministry of Emergency Management and hosted by the University of Emergency Management, the event is organized by the Guangdong Academy of Sciences Federation, Shenzhen Robotics Association, Shenzhen Public Welfare Rescue Volunteer Federation, Hikvision Wuxi Technology Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Industrial Space Development Co., Ltd., with support from the Shenzhen Emergency Safety Industry Association and Beijing Pinglan Public Welfare Foundation. It unites government, industry, academia, research, and application sectors. During the afternoon forum titled "Special Robots: Focusing on Emergency Rescue and Exploring Human-Robot Collaboration," five high-profile practical challenge tracks were unveiled. **Addressing Pain Points: From "Lab Showcases" to "Real-World Combat"** At the forum, experts skipped pleasantries and directly addressed the weaknesses of current emergency robots. Zhong Ruixing, First Secretary of the Joint Party Committee of Shenzhen's Science and Technology Social Organizations, emphasized that extreme weather and disaster incidents are forcing upgrades to traditional emergency methods. Rescue robots should not be delicate models confined to laboratories but must serve as "tough comrades" capable of entering fire zones, diving into deep water, and navigating rubble—a critical barrier protecting rescuers' lives. He noted that Shenzhen possesses China's most complete robot industrial chain, making this competition pivotal in driving the industry's leap from consumer-grade to "special-purpose, combat-ready." Wang Pinghui, professor at Southern University of Science and Technology and the forum moderator, described emergency rescue as the "ultimate exam" for robotics. He explained that the five tracks cover the most challenging disaster scenarios—from mountain deployments to underwater search-and-rescue—testing technical foundations under extreme conditions of "no roads, no networks, and no power." Han Zhenfeng, Executive Deputy Director of the Limited-Space Emergency Robot Laboratory at the National Natural Disaster Prevention Research Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management, summarized current technological limitations in nine words: "Cannot enter, cannot see clearly, cannot act." Yang Ruiyang, senior engineer and postdoctoral researcher at the Big Data Center of the Ministry of Emergency Management, cited data: over 90% of firefighting robot actions still rely on manual remote control under heavy smoke and glare; in plateau and high-cold environments, equipment failure rates exceed 40%. Existing wheeled or tracked robots often struggle against "layered" rubble and complex industrial settings. These pain points represent breakthrough opportunities. Liu Yongtao, professor at the University of Emergency Management and director of the Key Laboratory of Special Robots for Safety Production and Emergency Disposal in Hebei Province, revealed that China is accelerating construction of the world's first embodied special-purpose robot training and certification base. Future robots must evolve beyond "remote-controlled toys" into smart partners that enable "easy communication and light operation" with rescuers, achieving deep collaboration where humans decide and machines take risks. Hu Weijian, researcher at the Search and Rescue Center of the Ministry of Emergency Management, stressed that evaluation criteria must return to the four-character principle of "practical effectiveness," ensuring technology iterates through rigorous testing. Turning to global humanitarian efforts, Hu Huihua, China Liaison Coordinator for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), shared sobering statistics: In 2025, at least 326 humanitarian workers were killed globally. She argued that emergency robots are shifting from "future concepts" to "essential needs," serving as the first "eyes" and "hands" entering dangerous zones. China's manufacturing and supply chain advantages should translate into affordable, accessible technology that benefits the world. **Green Heart and Corporate Power: From Energy to Complete Systems** As the title sponsor, Baofu New Energy Co., Ltd. highlighted a frequently overlooked aspect of rescue operations—energy. For robots penetrating disaster zones, electricity is the "heart." This portable energy storage leader, with cumulative sales exceeding 700 units, has products distributed across more than 50 countries. It promptly donated solar-charging outdoor power supplies during major disasters including the Tibet Shigatse earthquake, California wildfires, and the Noto Peninsula earthquake in Japan, providing critical energy support on-site. Representatives from companies like Hikvision and Zhiyuan Kutuo also presented special-purpose robot solutions tailored for fire inspection and other scenarios, demonstrating the industry's rapid response to real-world demands. **Five "Hardcore" Tracks: Simulating the Cruelty of the Real World** According to the organizing committee, all challenge tracks address frontline rescue pain points and operate under simulated extreme conditions of "no roads, no networks, and no power." - **Post-Disaster Mountainous Supply Delivery**: Robots must autonomously traverse 300 meters of complex terrain featuring steep slopes, loose rocks, and dynamic water spray interference, delivering 20 kg of emergency supplies precisely twice consecutively. - **Demolition and Clearance of Narrow Channels in Collapsed Buildings**: Simulating dire situations deep within rubble, robots must crawl through pipes with an inner diameter of only 1 meters, performing millimeter-level concrete slab demolition within tiny triangular workspaces. Any error risks triggering "secondary collapses." - **Underwater Precision Location and Buoyancy Rescue in Floods**: In turbid waters entangled with fishing nets, robots must use sonar-vision fusion to lock onto targets and accurately complete buoyancy bag attachment and inflation towing. - **Large-Area AI Reconnaissance and Precision Airdrop Post-Disaster**: Drones must distinguish between human bodies and thermal interference sources using AI recognition under strong turbulence, dropping supplies precisely into designated barrels from high altitude with deviations not exceeding 100 mm. - **High-Rise Building Fire Rescue**: This three-dimensional operation requires ground, climbing, and aerial robots to collaborate in smoke-filled communication blackouts to complete the full chain of tasks: fire source localization, load-bearing climbing, window breaking for smoke ventilation, and multi-level extinguishing. **Ecosystem Co-Building: From Competition Arena to Global Impact** During the forum, the Beijing Pinglan Public Welfare Foundation introduced its upcoming "Chinese Private Offshore Medical Rescue Ship" project. This 5000-ton medical vessel will undertake humanitarian aid missions in Southeast Asia, Africa, and other regions, marking a significant step for private rescue forces venturing into deep blue waters. Zhu Zhaokui, Deputy General Manager of Hikvision Wuxi Technology Co., Ltd., stated that the company will deeply participate in post-competition technology incubation, helping emergency robots transition from "usable" to "user-friendly." Global registration for the competition is now open. Preliminary proposal submissions close on 2026 6 31, with finals scheduled for 2026 10 in Shenzhen. Winners will gain direct access to top-tier industry resources and have their solutions recommended to national emergency management departments as demonstration products for national-level drills. As the organizing committee stated, they seek not merely a technical contest but an opportunity for young tech talents to truly fulfill the promise of "letting technology protect life" through extreme challenges直面生死，co-creating a new paradigm for human civilization in the AI era.