On Saturday, 21 humanoid robots raced alongside thousands of human runners in the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing. The event marked the first time robots took part in such a race.
The robots, developed by Chinese companies like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics, varied in size. Some stood under 120 centimetres, while others were as tall as 1.8 metres. One company even claimed that their robot resembled a human, with features like a feminine look and the ability to wink and smile.
Some companies tested their robots for weeks before the race. Beijing officials compared the event to a race car competition, as it required the work of engineering and navigation teams.
“The robots are running smoothly. I feel like I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI,” said He Sishu, an AI expert and spectator.
A groundbreaking event in Beijing
Human trainers accompanied the robots, some helping them during the race.
A few robots wore running shoes. One had boxing gloves, and another sported a red headband with the words “Bound to Win” in Chinese.
The fastest robot, Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Centre for Human Robotics, completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The human winner finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes.
The centre is partially owned by two state-owned enterprises. Tech giant Xiaomi and robot firm UBTech share the remaining ownership.
Tang Jian, the centre’s chief technology officer, explained that Ultra’s long legs and an advanced algorithm helped it mimic the way humans run marathons.
“I’m proud to say that no Western robotics company has achieved what Tiangong has in sports,” Tang said. He added that the robot changed its batteries just three times during the race.
Some robots struggled early on. One fell at the start line and remained flat for a few moments before getting up and continuing. Another crashed into a railing after running only a few metres, causing its operator to fall.
Although humanoid robots have participated in marathons in China before, this is the first time they competed alongside human runners.
The future of robot race in industry
China is investing heavily in robotics to drive economic growth. Some analysts, however, question whether events like this show the robots’ true potential.
Alan Fern, a professor at Oregon State University, pointed out that despite Beijing’s claims of “AI breakthroughs,” the software enabling robots to run has existed for over five years.
“Chinese companies focus on showcasing robots walking, running, and dancing. While these feats are impressive, they don’t show the robots’ ability to perform useful tasks or demonstrate basic intelligence,” Fern said.
Tang emphasised that the centre’s future focus would be on industrial applications for humanoid robots. The goal is to deploy them in factories, business environments, and eventually in homes.
