Beijing, April 19, 2025, marked a significant milestone in the convergence of robotics and athletics as China hosted the world's first half-marathon featuring both humanoid robots and human runners. The 21-kilometer race, held in the capital's E-Town, a state-backed high-tech manufacturing hub, drew considerable attention as it showcased the nation's ambitions to lead in cutting-edge technology.
Thousands of human runners participated alongside twenty-one humanoid robots of varying sizes and designs from Chinese manufacturers, including DroidUP and Noetix Robotics. Some robots stood as short as 120cm, while others reached up to 1.8m in height. The event was designed to test the limits and capabilities of bipedal robots in real-world conditions, with engineers emphasizing that completing the race, rather than winning, was the primary objective.
The race commenced with a starting gun, accompanied by the popular Chinese song "I Believe." While humans and robots started from the same line, they ran on separate tracks for safety. The robots started sequentially, each one minute apart. Some robots ran autonomously, while others were remotely guided by engineers who jogged alongside their creations. This setup mirrored aspects of a race car competition, requiring engineering and navigation teams to support the machines. Supply stations were strategically placed along the course, enabling teams to swap batteries or even robots, and rotate support staff.
Not all robots experienced smooth runs. One smaller android fell at the starting line, remaining down for several minutes before restarting to the cheers of the crowd. Another, resembling a Transformer and powered by propellers, crashed into a barrier, causing an engineer to fall. Despite these setbacks, the event was seen as a crucial step forward for the robotics industry.
The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, completed the half-marathon in 2 hours and 40 minutes. In contrast, the fastest human runner finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes. Tiangong Ultra’s success was attributed to its long legs and a unique algorithm that allowed it to mimic the way humans run a marathon. Its developers boasted that no Western robotics firm had yet matched Tiangong's sporting achievements, noting that the robot only required three battery changes during the race.
Spectators expressed excitement about witnessing the evolution of robots and AI. Some robots sported unique accessories, including running shoes, boxing gloves, and headbands with motivational slogans. The event underscored China's investment in robotics as a means to stimulate economic growth. Experts suggest the half-marathon served as a validation platform, testing the performance, stability, safety and operational efficiency of robots in real-world scenarios, and demonstrating their potential for industrial applications.
