In a groundbreaking fusion of technology and sports, Beijing recently witnessed the thrilling climax of the Robo League robot football tournament. This event marked a significant milestone in autonomous technology as humanoid robots competed without human intervention. The tournament was not just a spectacle of cutting-edge innovation but also a precursor to the much-anticipated 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games. As the robots took to the field, they showcased remarkable agility and intelligence, drawing attention from tech enthusiasts and sports fans alike. This tournament highlighted the potential of robotics in redefining the future of sports and everyday life.

The Thrill of Autonomous Soccer

The Robo League tournament in Beijing represented the first fully autonomous robot soccer event ever held in China, capturing the imagination of audiences worldwide. Each team consisted of three humanoid robots, with one substitute, competing in two 10-minute halves separated by a brief intermission. During the match, the robots demonstrated impressive skills, including walking, running, and kicking, all while making real-time decisions without human guidance.

Equipped with advanced optical cameras and sensors, these robots could detect the ball from up to 65 feet away with over 90 percent accuracy, identifying crucial elements such as field lines, goals, teammates, and opponents. The tournament’s executive director, Dou Jing, emphasized that this event was a significant step in merging technological innovation with industrial application. Despite minor limitations, such as challenges in dynamic obstacle avoidance, the tournament was hailed as a success, paving the way for future advancements in autonomous sports.

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Expanding the Horizon of Robot Sports

Looking ahead, organizers plan to broaden the scope of sports played by humanoid robots. The goal is to introduce more intellectual properties and enhance the level of competition. Currently, the soccer level is comparable to that of young children, but expectations are high for future improvements as technology advances. In a notable past event, the Tiangong Ultra robot participated in a long-distance race, completing a 13-mile course, showcasing the potential for diverse athletic applications.

The upcoming 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games, scheduled for August 15-17 in Beijing, promises to be a spectacular showcase of robotic prowess. The event will feature 11 sport categories modeled on traditional human competitions, including track and field, gymnastics, and synchronized dancing. This evolution in robot sports not only highlights technological progress but also offers a glimpse into the future of entertainment and public engagement with robotics.

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Technological Innovation Meets Real-World Application

The Robo League tournament demonstrated the potential for robots to transition from controlled environments to real-world scenarios. By allowing the robots to operate autonomously, the event underscored the strides made in artificial intelligence and robotics. The tournament’s success is a testament to the relentless pursuit of innovation in these fields, with applications extending beyond sports into various aspects of daily life.

This competition was more than just a game; it was a platform for showcasing how robots can integrate into society, handling tasks that require agility, precision, and decision-making. As robots become more sophisticated, they hold the promise of revolutionizing industries, from manufacturing to healthcare, and even domestic environments. The Robo League has set the stage for future advancements and collaborations between technology and society.

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The Road to the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games

As Beijing prepares to host the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Sports Games, the focus is on showcasing the world’s most advanced humanoid robots. The event will not only highlight sporting competitions but also challenge robots in real-world scenarios, pushing the boundaries of what autonomous machines can achieve. This international gathering will serve as a platform for innovation, collaboration, and inspiration for the next generation of roboticists and engineers.

With a lineup of 11 sport events, the Games are set to captivate audiences and provide a unique opportunity to witness the convergence of sports and technology. This event will build on the foundation laid by the Robo League, furthering the dialogue on how robots can enhance human life and capabilities. As we look to the future, the question remains: How will these advancements shape the relationship between humans and machines in the decades to come?

In conclusion, the Robo League tournament and the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Sports Games represent a remarkable intersection of sports and technology. These events offer a glimpse into a future where robots play a greater role in entertainment and everyday life. As we continue to explore the possibilities, one must ask: How will these innovations redefine our understanding of competition and collaboration in the modern world?

Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article.

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The Trump administration’s sweeping revisions to Title IX policies have upended the landscape of university athletics and education funding, creating both compliance risks and strategic opportunities for institutions and athletic gear companies. With federal funding at stake and legal battles looming, universities and brands must adapt to survive—or thrive—in this shifting regulatory environment. This article explores the financial and reputational stakes for universities, analyzes how athletic gear companies can capitalize on evolving consumer sentiments, and identifies investment opportunities in sectors aligned with policy trends or insulated from backlash.

The Title IX Regulatory Shift: Risks for Universities

The administration’s reinterpretation of Title IX prioritizes biological sex over gender identity, mandating that transgender athletes compete in sports aligned with their sex assigned at birth. The University of Pennsylvania’s recent compliance agreement with the Department of Education exemplifies the consequences of noncompliance: stripping records from transgender athletes, issuing public apologies, and adopting “biology-based” definitions of gender. Universities now face three critical risks:

1. Funding Loss: Institutions reliant on federal grants or research funding risk losing critical resources. For example, Penn’s $175 million funding freeze disrupted research projects and athletics budgets.
2. Legal Costs: Universities in states with conflicting laws (e.g., California) may face lawsuits, diverting resources from core operations.
3. Reputational Damage: Institutions perceived as discriminatory could lose alumni donations and student enrollment, particularly from progressive demographics.

Athletic Gear Companies: Riding the Wave or Swimming Against It

While universities grapple with compliance, athletic gear companies must navigate consumer divides over inclusivity. The policy shift has polarized public opinion, creating opportunities for brands to align with either side or hedge risks through diversity-focused strategies:

Companies Aligning with Administration Policies

• Potential Winners: Brands supporting biological-sex-based eligibility may appeal to conservative markets. For example, Nike could emphasize partnerships with schools adopting strict Title IX policies, leveraging its existing dominance in team sports apparel.
• Risk: Alienating LGBTQ+ consumers and progressive investors.

Companies Betting on Inclusivity

• Strengths: Brands with gender-neutral or size-inclusive product lines (e.g., Lululemon‘s adaptive apparel) or strong sustainability credentials may attract socially conscious consumers.
• Opportunity: Expanding into markets like Europe, where gender identity protections are stronger, or states resisting federal mandates.

Sustainability as a Compliance Hedge

Environmental regulations, such as the EU’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and PFAS bans, intersect with Title IX’s equity goals. Companies like Patagonia (with its circular design ethos) or Arc’teryx (prioritizing repair and recycling services) may thrive by meeting dual demands for sustainability and compliance.

Investment Recommendations

1. Long Positions in Compliance-Focused Brands
2. Nike (NKE): Leverage its scale and institutional ties to secure contracts with universities adapting to Title IX changes. Monitor its stock performance ().

3. Under Armour (UAA): Its performance-driven apparel could appeal to universities prioritizing competitive equity, while its smaller size avoids overexposure to LGBTQ+ backlash.

4. Short Positions or Avoidance of Polarized Brands

5. Lululemon (LULU): While its inclusivity stance may win progressive consumers, it risks backlash in states enforcing strict Title IX policies.

6. Adidas (ADS): Its global footprint exposes it to EU regulations and U.S. political swings; watch for stock volatility ().

7. Sustainability Plays

8. Patagonia (PCLN): Invest in its mission-driven model, which aligns with EPR mandates and appeals to socially conscious consumers.
9. Salomon (part of Kering): Its community-focused stores and cultural relevance (e.g., Paris flagship during the Olympics) position it to capture niche markets.

Conclusion: Balancing Policy and Profit

The Title IX overhaul has created a high-stakes game for universities and athletic brands. Institutions must prioritize compliance to avoid funding losses, while companies need to choose their alignments carefully. Investors should favor brands with agility—those capable of adapting to regulatory shifts, hedging risks through sustainability, or diversifying into inclusive markets. As legal battles unfold and consumer sentiment evolves, the winners will be those that balance regulatory demands with the enduring pursuit of equity.

In short, Title IX is no longer just about bathrooms and locker rooms—it’s about dollars, reputation, and the future of sports.

Data sources: Department of Education OCR reports, NCAA policy updates, company investor presentations, and market research firms.

(NewsUSA) – Counting steps as a measure of exercise is misleading, and not a useful indicator of daily exercise goals, according to exercise physiologist Alexander Rothstein, Ed.D.

“Hitting 10,000 steps a day helps to prevent long sedentary periods, which are associated with health risks like blood clots and heart disease, but society tends to overestimate the fitness benefits of taking 10,000 steps,” said Rothstein, an assistant professor of exercise science at New York Institute of Technology.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio exercise five days per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise three times per week for most adults, Rothstein said. A combination of the two (moderate and vigorous) at least three to four days a week would also meet these guidelines.

However, nearly half (46%) of American adults do not meet guidelines for aerobic or muscle-strengthening activities, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On its own, a daily step count goal has a minimal impact on physical fitness. Although everyday walking qualifies as physical activity, it typically lacks the intensity needed to significantly improve cardiovascular or muscular fitness, Rothstein said. “During routine walking, we’re usually not reaching an intensity that sufficiently elevates heart rate or oxygen demand to drive meaningful physiological adaptations,” he explained.

For a more accurate measurement of exercise intensity, Rothstein advises checking your heart rate rather than your step count. “Heart rate is a better measurement tool. The time spent in certain heart rate zones can be counted towards the recommended exercise guidelines. In general, the higher your heart rate, the higher the exercise intensity,” he said.

You can raise the intensity and elevate your heart rate while walking by increasing your pace (power walk) or adding some hills, which requires you to work against gravity to propel yourself upward, Rothstein noted. “These factors challenge the body much more than walking at a slower pace or on a flat surface. Walking on an incline activates muscles in the calves, glutes, and hamstrings, especially if you’re moving faster.”

Steps are a great way to track physical activity and prevent sedentary behavior, but be sure to plan time for purposeful exercise that challenges the body and elevates the heart rate, Rothstein added.

Rothstein is one of many New York Tech faculty lending their expertise to help tackle real-world challenges. Visit nyit.edu to learn more.

As we pivot to the second half of the year, we’ve opted for an easy-reading lookback as we head into the Fourth of July holiday. The SBJ Tech staff has combed through its coverage from the last six months, pinpointing stories that still resonate from their initial publish dates or have even continued to grow in impact.

Let us know what you think of our picks, and enjoy your holiday weekend.

Joe Lemire — senior writer, SBJ Tech

“With apologies to torpedo bats, Whoop’s medical grade pivot and the $1 billion (!) sports tech fund launched by sports owner Ryan Smith and venture capitalist Ryan Sweeney, my choice is our exclusive news about the NBA’s league-wide biomechanics program.

“No pro sports league in the world has undertaken such an ambitious project as this: full deployment of motion capture labs to every team’s training facility, with player participation baked into the CBA.

“The Achilles tendon epidemic of this postseason drove home the need for action to be taken. This new program won’t solve for all the load management and injury issues in the league, but it’s a meaningful first step and remarkable ownership of the problem from the NBA.”

Rob Schaefer — staff writer, SBJ Tech

“One of the first articles I wrote when I started at SBJ two years ago was about ASB GlassFloor, a German court manufacturer rolling out an LED-embedded glass playing surface that could display high-fidelity video and motion graphics, for the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup. It’s been fascinating to chart ASB’s growth since, including permanent installations in the arenas of two EuroLeague basketball clubs (and a nod as one of our 10 Most Innovative Sports Tech Companies this year).

“But ASB’s deepening relationship with the NBA has been of particular interest to me since the league used its LumiFlex court at All-Star weekend events in February 2024. The league is now not only an investor in the company, but also a collaborator on a testing lab ASB set up in Orlando earlier this year to demo with NBA athletes, coaches and executives, as well as reps from other sports organizations like the USTA.

“We got an inside look at how those trials are progressing from executives with ASB and the NBA, plus a glimpse into how players view the tech, which was published in an April edition of the Sports Business Journal magazine but remains worth a read (or even a re-read if you caught it the first time). ASB Head/Americas Chris Thornton has told me he views their glass courts as the iPhone to maple floors’ Blackberry. It’s going to take buy-in from a variety of stakeholders to make their vision for transforming in-arena fan experiences, team training regimens and advertising a reality. But ASB’s technology, and the NBA’s experimentation with it, is the type of outside-the-box thinking with real business utility that we’re always trying to unearth and spotlight at SBJ Tech.”

Jenn Azara — managing editor, SBJ Tech

“I chose this story — NFL using Hawk-Eye technology would not change controversial play in AFC Championship — from conference title weekend. Joe Lemire wrote it the morning after a controversial call during a Bills-Chiefs playoff game (I mean, Go, Birds anyway, amirite?). Joe went on to explain that the way Hawk-Eye’s technology will first be deployed in the NFL would not include the review of this critical play call. Some of my favorite SBJ Tech stories have been where we take a current moment at a sporting event that everyone is talking about and weigh in on the role sports tech has played — or in this case, would not have played.

“Hawk-Eye is also a sports tech company whose evolution we have been following for years and was named to our most recent class of SBJ’s 10 Most Innovative Sports Technology Companies, so it’s incredibly satisfying to see them sign major league-wide deals, such as the NFL one.”

Ethan Joyce — staff writer, SBJ Tech:

“Dare I look into the glaring sun of recency bias and highlight our sports industry tech leaders package again? Nay. But I will shine a light on another example of teamwork that became a well-rounded look at a hot topic.

“Joe mentioned torpedo bats in his entry above, and he was our go-to source of knowledge for the social-media phenomenon. But the team as a whole turned flashpan interest in the bizarre-looking bat into a collection of stories about equipment innovation in sports. Joe hit the long ball of the package, talking to 16 people around baseball on the bat’s place in the sport and the other innovations it might spur. Rob highlighted the equipment enhancements that were so good they had to be banned. And my colleague Adam Stern and I looked at the constant push forward by two sports full of technology and data: auto-racing and golf, respectively. I say it often, but I love a team effort.

“Also, I feel a pull to highlight the quality of SBJ Tech Week earlier this year. Our lineup was stellar, headlined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, whose career with the league served as a spectrum of dramatic tech growth. The two-day event also welcomed a growing population of former athletes who are becoming larger players in the sports tech space as investors and business leaders.”

4 ways the US military is embracing commercial technology

Many devices used daily by the civilian population have surprising origins in the military. GPS, which has become essential to many aspects of transportation, is a product of the space race of the 1950s and ’60s. Drones, which now prowl the skies surveying and filming, have roots in the first pilotless vehicles in World War I.

War and conflict have often driven innovation, leading to a symbiotic relationship between the military and commercial sectors. The Department of Defense (DOD) 2025 defense budget request set aside $143.2 billion for Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, with $17.2 billion, or 12%, dedicated to science and technology.

This comes after Tech Inquiry reported the DOD paid $28 billion to Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet from 2018-22. Venture capital firms spent almost $100 billion on defense technology from 2021-23, according to data from PitchBook.

The defense sector has leaned on Silicon Valley so much that the 2024 SXSW festival featured a panel on defense tech. Uniqode analyzed resources from the Department of Defense and news reports to compile this list of four ways the military incorporates commercial technologies into warfare and national security efforts.

Artificial intelligence

While artificial intelligence (AI) has only recently exploded in the mainstream, the DOD has been working with it for decades. It is now partnering with tech companies to integrate AI into the nation’s defense infrastructure, using Al in data-driven military applications such as reconnaissance and intelligence and improving cybersecurity and computation. On the ground, AI helps acquire and identify targets and even automate vehicles and weapons.

While these advancements can reduce margins of error for complex tasks and increase the safety of troops, AI is still far from perfect. There are serious ethical concerns regarding its use for military purposes. The Arms Control Association cautions that increased reliance on AI could lead to rapid conflict escalation and instability concerning nuclear weapons. Other concerns—including facial recognition technology failures that have resulted in wrongful arrests—suggest it could cost lives and cause catastrophic collateral damage.

The DOD has sought to minimize such risks by developing a framework for implementing and using AI. However, this emerging technology still requires tempering from the military and private sectors to ensure safe use.

QR Codes

Japanese company Denso Wave developed quick response (QR) Codes in 1994 as an alternative to barcodes. Since then, the black and white squares have appeared on everything, such as inventory, advertisements, and documents needing authentication. QR Codes provide an advantage over barcodes in that they are still functional if dirty or damaged. They also have a greater capacity to store information.

Such technology translates well to a military environment. Consequently, QR Codes are replacing fuel keys at U.S. military bases worldwide, with plans for the system to be operational at more than 600 fuel stations by 2025. This application of QR Codes will offer increased security and timely resource tracking.

The Marine Corps has implemented technology to improve the efficiency of maintenance in barracks. That system, dubbed QSRMax, provides a digital means for submitting maintenance requests, improving communication and accountability, helping resolve issues more efficiently, and reducing administrative tasks for stretched-thin personnel.

Cloud computing

Many data-intensive fields are moving from hardwired storage to more widely accessible cloud-based computing. At the end of 2022, the DOD awarded contracts worth up to $9 billion to Google, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and Oracle for developing the Joint Warfighter Cloud Capability program. The program aims to provide commercial cloud capabilities to the DOD directly from the providers.

It was to be employed in addition to other cloud-based services already in use, greatly expanding their capabilities. The result is readily accessible information for operations and administration across varying classification levels. The move to cloud-based computing cuts down on the equipment warfighters need in the field to access information and operational plans to maintain a tactical edge. Moving to the cloud also reduces the equipment and maintenance that physical data storage requires.

3D printing

The commercial manufacturing industry has used 3D printing for decades, revolutionizing the production process from prototyping to fully finished components. In the military, 3D printing equipment has helped soldiers and others maintain and repair equipment in various stages of service life, hard-to-find gear, and discontinued parts.

Vehicles, aircraft, and weapons still in service but needing new components can remain operational with these 3D-printed parts. The technology has advanced from simply providing plastic parts to a joint venture among Rock Island Arsenal, Ingersoll Machine Tools, and other entities, which can make fully printed metal vehicle hulls without welded joints or heat treatments.

Over the next 15 years, the Army alone will invest $4.5 billion to improve its industrial capabilities, and 3D printing will account for a significant portion of that investment.

The bottom line

The DOD is reshaping military strategy by adopting commercial technologies. AI, cloud computing, QR Codes, and 3D printing show how civilian and military innovation now overlap. 

This trend continues to grow, with billions in defense tech investment. Yet the military must balance operational gains against ethical and security risks. Success requires strong oversight while maintaining partnerships that keep America’s defense edge

Story editing by Mike Taylor. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick.

This story was produced by
Uniqode and was produced and
distributed in partnership with
Stacker.

Fitbit owners will soon receive a new feature on their devices which has been available for iPhone users for a number of years, according to a new report.

Even in 2025, Fitbit remains a highly sought-after fitness tracker brand, despite the absence of new hardware since 2023.

These sleek and budget-friendly wearables continue to attract a large fan base due to their straightforward user interfaces and surprisingly advanced health and sports metric tracking capabilities.

Despite the hardware hiatus, Google, the owner of Fitbit, has been actively updating the Fitbit app, giving it a fresh look that aligns with the design of other Google software and apps.

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However, this update process has been frustratingly slow for Google, with several pages within the Fitbit app for iPhone and Android maintaining the old design for months after other sections had been updated.

Adding to the frustration, Express.co.uk reported earlier this year that Google had yet to fix a significant bug affecting thousands of Fitbits, even though the company had been aware of the issue for at least six months.

One of the standout features of Fitbits is their compatibility with both Android and iPhone devices, even after Google, the creator of Android, acquired Fitbit in 2021.

Given this, one might assume that Google would favor the Android version of the app, but that’s not necessarily the case. In fact, according to a report from Android Authority, iPhone users have enjoyed a specific feature for years that is only just now being introduced to Android phones.

A new feature was discovered in an upcoming version of the app’s code, a method used by online detectives to uncover an app’s features before the update is released to everyone.

This discovery indicates that Google is developing a feature for Fitbit users on Android that will notify their phones when their Fitbit is fully charged. This small but useful feature has been available to iPhone users for quite some time.

Fitbits have a longer battery life compared to Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch models, with the Fitbit Inspire 3 boasting up to ten days of battery life. However, it’s easy to forget about your device when it needs charging – and if you leave it charging all day, you’ll miss out on valuable step counting, heart rate monitoring, and wrist notifications.

By sending a notification to your phone when your Fitbit is fully charged, you can be reunited with your tracker as quickly as possible.

The reason why this feature took so long to be introduced to Android is unclear, but it does highlight the fragmented state of Fitbit today. Despite recent software additions, the brand appears to be slowing down, even though it is not dead.