Sunday, April 20, 2025

Humanoid robots run a half-marathon in China alongside humans

Apr 20, 2025 #technology #robot #news

Humanoid robots ran alongside humans in a half-marathon in Beijing. 

The robots navigated the 21.1-kilometer (13.1-mile) course supported by teams of human navigators, operators and engineers, in what event organizers say was a first. 

Read more here: https://bit.ly/42EuRHA

 

Stumbling and Overheating, Most Humanoid Robots Fail to Finish Half Marathon in Beijing

Only six of the 21 robots in the race crossed the finish line, highlighting just how far humanoids are from keeping up with their real human counterparts.
BEIJING CHINA  APRIL 19 A Humanoid robot called Tiangong runs after the finish line in the Beijing ETown Humanoid Robot...
A Humanoid robot called Tiangong runs after the finish line in the Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half Marathon on April 19, 2025, in Beijing, China.Photograph: Kevin Frayer/

Humanoid robots stride into the future with world's first half-marathon

Step by mechanical step, dozens of humanoid robots took to the streets of Beijing early Saturday, joining thousands of their flesh-and-blood counterparts in a world-first half marathon showcasing China's drive to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology...

"Getting onto the race track might seem like a small step for humans, but it's a giant leap for ," Liang Liang, Beijing E-Town's management committee deputy director, told AFP before the event. Nearby, engineers jogged alongside their machines.

"The marathon helps push humanoid robots one step closer toward industrialization."

 China, the world's second-largest economy, has sought to assert its dominance in the fields of AI and robotics

"Honestly, there are very few opportunities for the whole industry to run at full speed over such a long distance or duration. It's a serious test for the battery, the motors, the structure—even the algorithms."

China, the world's second-largest economy, has sought to assert its dominance in the fields of AI and robotics.

Cui said as part of its training, a had been running a half-marathon every day, at a pace of about seven minutes per kilometer, and he expected it to complete the race with no issues.

"But just in case, we've also prepared a backup robot," he added.

Another young , 25-year-old Kong Yichang from DroidUp, said the race would help to "lay a foundation for a whole series of future activities involving humanoid robots".

"The significance (of the race) lies in the fact that humanoid robots can truly integrate into and begin doing things that humans do."

A robot loses control as it takes part in the half marathon in Beijing

A robot loses control as it takes part in the half marathon in Beijing.

China, the world's second-largest economy, has sought to assert its dominance in the fields of AI and robotics, positioning itself as a direct challenger to the United States.

In January, Chinese start-up DeepSeek drew attention with a chatbot it claimed was developed more cost-effectively than its American counterparts.

Dancing humanoid robots also captivated audiences during a televised Chinese New Year gala.

Cheers for the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing

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