Abacoa & Alton Neighbors - November 2025

12 A B A C O A & A LT O N N E I G H B O R S | N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5 - By Deirdre Donovan - L ast summer in Beijing, a crowd gathered not for a World Cup match, but for something stranger: a soccer game played entirely by robots. The players wobbled as they ran, tumbled over one another, and occasionally pulled off passes that actually worked. The fans cheered not because the play was perfect, but because it was so unpredictable. It was part science experiment, part comedy, and a glimpse into how robotics is moving from the lab into the world of sports. The moment was symbolic. Sports are often seen as the ultimate test of human endurance, skill, and creativity, yet here were machines stepping into the same arena. Granted, they weren’t breaking records or making great plays, but the fact that they were even on the field shows how far robotics has come. ROBOTS ON THE FIELD TODAY Robots aren’t just competing for laughs. They’re already reshaping training and accessibility in sports. Table tennis robots can shoot balls with machine-like precision, challenging players at speeds and spins they struggle to find in a human partner. Golf practice machines adapt to a player’s skill level, delivering just the right challenge. Unlike human sparring partners, robots don’t get tired, bored, or distracted. Meanwhile, entire competitions are dedicated to robot athletes. The World Humanoid Robot Games in China feature sprinting, fencing, and ball sports, while robot soccer tournaments showcase autonomous teams dribbling, passing, and even improvising strategies. And it’s not just for fun—researchers are exploring how robots could support athletes with disabilities, from wheelchair tennis to robotic assistants that will make sports more accessible to everyone. THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE BOTS What makes these robots more than remote-controlled toys is the tech powering them. Advances in artificial intelligence and computer-vision robots track balls, teammates, and opponents in real time. Mechanical breakthroughs like lighter motors, stronger actuators, and better balance control are helping them move with something closer to real human agility. Engineers are working on giving them “game sense.” “Game sense” is the ability to read plays and coordinate in a team, not just follow pre-programmed moves. Think about how a point guard scans the court before dishing out an assist; that is the kind of intuition that developers hope to simulate. While we are nowhere near that level, early versions of tactical decision-making in robots are already showing a lot of promise. THE ROADBLOCKS Of course, robots are not replacing players like LeBron and Messi anytime soon. They’re a lot slower, less agile, and prone to awkward breakdowns. They’re also expensive and fragile, making them impractical for use as everyday players. Sharing a playing field with a robot raises safety concerns, too. Are robot competitions real sports? Is training with robots a form of tech-doping? Will fans ever truly embrace machine athletes? These debates may prove just as important as the technology itself. Sports are built on tradition and human connection, and fans rally behind their favorite players because they relate to them. Robots don’t have backstories or personalities, so their place in the emotional fabric of sports is still uncertain. WHAT’S NEXT? The future of robots in sports may not be about replacement, but collaboration. Imagine robots serving as coaches, referees, or even teammates in hybrid matches. As costs fall, training robots could become more accessible to everyday athletes and new sports designed specifically for robots could emerge. This would create an entirely new arena for competition. For now, robots are still stumbling across soccer fields in Beijing, drawing laughter and applause in equal measure. It might look clumsy, but it’s also a sign of something big: sports, one of humanity’s oldest traditions, is being reimagined through robotics. And whether we embrace them as athletes, coaches, or just quirky entertainers, the robots are not leaving the game anytime soon. Deirdre Donovan is a sports management student at Keiser University. She is currently pursuing both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Sport Management. As a dedicated college athlete, she is passionate about combining her athletic experience with her education to make an impact in the sports industry. Keiser University – Flagship Campus Robotics & The Game: HOW MACHINES ARE CHANGING SPORTS