[Event Report] Japan's First Bipedal Robot Hackathon: 5 Teams Challenged for 2 Days

Environment setup on the eve. Only a few hours to touch the actual robot.

Nevertheless, all teams managed to operate the robots and stand on the presentation stage.

RobotMateHub (operated by Godo Kaisha Yamariki Edge, Representative: Rikiya Yamamoto) held a hackathon titled "Designing a Future to Live with Robots" using the humanoid robot "Unitree G1" for two days from March 27 (Fri) to 28 (Sat), 2026, at the Robot Company Exchange Hub RoboLink (Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture). Approximately 25 engineers, designers, researchers, and students were divided into 5 teams, and all teams successfully completed the operational implementation and final presentations. As the first installment of the "Humanoid Robot Hackathon Caravan," talent and ideas to lead the physical AI era gathered.

"Going forward, I want to create opportunities for each individual to seriously consider robots and AI, rather than a world where products are pushed onto us." - Rikiya Yamamoto (Organizer, Representative of Godo Kaisha Yamariki Edge)

Group Photo

Event Overview

Date: March 27 (Fri) - 28 (Sat), 2026

Venue: Robot Company Exchange Hub RoboLink

(Kakurakumatsu Building 6F, 559 Fujisawa, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture / 2-minute walk from Fujisawa Station North Exit)

Robots Used: Unitree G1 (bipedal robot) 3 units

Organizers: Godo Kaisha Yamariki Edge / RobotMateHub

Judges: Professor Taro Yamada / Professor Taku Itami / Professor Tomomi Ota / Professor Yoshitaka Ushiku

Venue Cooperation: Robot Company Exchange Hub RoboLink (Kanagawa Prefecture)

Cooperation: GMO AI & Robotics Commercial Co., Ltd. / AIBEAM Co., Ltd. /

Cognitech.DEV / O-Hitoyoshi Lab / Smart Light Co., Ltd. /

Business AI Promotion Organization / Ichizero System Co., Ltd.

Unitree G1 active in the hackathon

Event Flow

▶ Day 1 (March 27, Friday evening, online)

Kick-off, team building, explanation of Unitree G1 API and themes.

Participants worked on design and coding until late at night, preparing for the next day's hands-on session.

▶ Day 2 (March 28, Saturday, on-site)

Morning: Unitree G1 hands-on operation, environment setup, development sprint.

The sight of three G1s in the venue was the first experience of a physical AI現場 (現場: actual site/scene) for the participants.

Preparation scene

G1 hands-on operation scene

Award-Winning Teams

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Best Physical AI Award

Team "Osanpo"

Project "Funny Stretch Assistant"

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Implemented an "exercise companion robot" by attaching a smartphone as G1's face, expressing emotions with the representative's photo, and synchronizing physical movements like squats with voice interaction. The team was also praised for maximizing development speed by separating internal robot processing from external smartphone processing.

【Judge's Comment (Professor Taro Yamada / Award Ceremony)】

As someone who has created physical AI strategies, I evaluated the communication and training elements as the most orthodox and high-quality. Congratulations.

【Judge's Comment (Professor Yoshitaka Ushiku / As Professor Ushiku Special Award)】

It expressed another modality, 'face,' and the quality as an AI was high.

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Best Interaction Award / Audience Choice Award (Double Award)

Team "127cm Third Son"

Project "Family Connection"

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A proposal that viewed G1's height of 127cm as the "third son in the family." This is the same height as an elderly person's shoulder when seated. Leveraging this size, the team designed interactions that cater to children and the elderly. The implementation also included recognizing adults and children by height to branch actions.

【Judge's Comment (Professor Yoshitaka Ushiku / Award Ceremony)】

Beyond the passion of the presentation, the interaction focusing on physicality, and the answer including 'wanting to interact with children and the elderly' made it the best.

Team "127cm Third Son" presentation scene

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Best Idea Award

Team "Sushi JP"

Project "Robot Rickshaw Connecting People and Towns"

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Proposed a rickshaw robot where G1 acts as an "interpreter" to guide foreign tourists through local sightseeing, for those who tend to stick to "tourist-oriented shops" due to language barriers and cultural reservations.

【Judge's Comment (Professor Tomomi Ota, Professor Taku Itami / Award Ceremony)】

We evaluated the focus on tourism and inbound travel, and the originality of the rickshaw idea.

【Professor Tomomi Ota Special Award Comment (Award Ceremony)】

My award definitely goes to this team. They were the only team that tried to take the robot out into society, outside of a room.

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Judges' Special Awards (4 teams)

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◎ Professor Taku Itami Award — Team "Wa no Kokoro"

"Robot Chanosuke Delivering Small Joys"

Implemented greeting guests at the entrance and performing a tea ceremony. Aimed to incorporate an emotion engine that scores fatigue from voice tone and responds with "I'll leave you alone today."

【Professor Itami's Comment (Award Ceremony)】

I felt potential in the retargeting, the possibility of translating human movements to robots, and the action selection that matched the atmosphere.

◎ Professor Tomomi Ota Award — Team "Sushi JP"

(Double award with Best Idea Award. See comment above)

◎ Professor Yoshitaka Ushiku Award — Team "Osanpo"

(Double award with Best Physical AI Award. See comment above)

◎ Professor Taro Yamada Award — Team "Ebifurai"

"UI/UX HANA: A Partner Robot that Evolves with the Family"

Proposed a partner robot that changes roles according to life stages (children, adults, elderly) and inherits the "heart" of the software across hardware. Implemented an MVP that controls G1 with ROS 2 and Docker, and moves the arm from a WebUI.

【Professor Taro Yamada Award Comment (Award Ceremony)】

I commend the team for tackling the most challenging home domain, which top global players like 1X NEO are targeting.

The Judges

Questions for Social Implementation of Physical AI / Humanoid Robots

During the interim and final judging, sharp questions were posed by the judges.

"How can we make a profit?"

"Why must it be humanoid?"

Robots are not about technical perfection, but about business and social implementation.

All 5 teams' projects created a venue to confront these questions.

Judges' General Comments

【Professor Taro Yamada (from X post after the event)】

Seeing them struggle on site, I am convinced that the future of physical AI in Japan is bright.

I will leverage this enthusiasm in policy to once again create Japan as a world-leading robot nation.

【Professor Taku Itami (from email after the event)】

Everyone's abilities were very high, and I was overwhelmed throughout. I hope many people learn about events like this and feel that Japan can still compete.

Participant Voices (from survey)

・The staff were kind, and the mentors were excellent. Japan's first robot hackathon was truly wonderful.

・Providing actual robots, the high quality of the staff, and the high quality of the judges. Everything was great.

・I was able to deepen my knowledge of movements for android production. My interest in physical AI has significantly increased.

Participant Satisfaction: Average 4.75 out of 5

"Definitely want to participate next time": 87.5% of respondents

G1 permanently exhibited at RoboLink until May 30, also available for experience

Even after the hackathon, Unitree G1 will be permanently exhibited at RoboLink until May 30, 2026! Every Saturday, as part of the "Unitree G1 Operation and Development Experience," engineers who participated in the hackathon will visit RoboLink to provide visitors with controller operation experiences and technical exchange.

Anyone who wants to touch a robot, even if they didn't participate in the hackathon, is welcome.

Exhibition Period: ~May 30 (Fri), 2026

Location: Robot Company Exchange Hub RoboLink (Kakurakumatsu Building 6F, 559 Fujisawa, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture)

Fee: Free

Inquiries: info@yamariki-edge.com

G1 Continuous Experience Program Cooperating Companies:

Robot Company Exchange Hub RoboLink

A robot company exchange hub established by Kanagawa Prefecture in Fujisawa City in the autumn of 2024 as part of the "Sagami Robot Industry Special Zone." It features showrooms, co-working spaces, and seminar rooms, functioning as a place for business negotiations and joint research among robot-related companies and universities.

AIBEAM Co., Ltd.

A company that handles the sales of various robot bodies and related equipment, as well as information and communication technology and software development.

NGS

Representative: Shun Nakatogawa. Engages in drone photography, ROS2 robot development, and programming education businesses. Supports the continuous experience program as a technical support for robot development.

About Future Hackathons

This was the first installment of the "Humanoid Robot Hackathon Caravan." The concept is to expand hackathons nationwide, using various humanoid robots as themes. Information on the next event will be delivered fastest through the RobotMateHub community (Discord).

RobotMateHub: https://robotmatehub.com