Humans, Robots Compete in Historic Beijing Half-Marathon

In a world-first event in Beijing, humanoid robots ran alongside human participants in a half-marathon, though the two groups were separated for safety. Twenty-one robot teams, mostly remote-controlled and supported by human operators, tackled the 13.1-mile course with tailored guidelines, including battery-swap pit stops and allowed substitutions, though only four robots finished within the four-hour cutoff. The Tiangong Ultra robot claimed victory among the androids, completing the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, but this was more than double the time of the fastest human runner. The event highlighted ongoing technical challenges for robotics, such as heat management, movement algorithms, and system durability, with some robots experiencing dramatic failures on the course. Awards recognized not just speed, but also endurance, gait design, and innovative form. The race aligns with China’s ambition to advance humanoid robotics as a key frontier in tech development.