In a groundbreaking blend of athleticism and innovation, 21 humanoid robots participated alongside thousands of human runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in China on Saturday (April 19).
This historic moment marked the first time these robotic creations raced over a 21-kilometer course together with humans.
Manufactured by Chinese companies including DroidVP and Noetix Robotics, the robots came in a wide range of shapes and sizes—some standing under 120 cm (3 ft 9 in), while others reached up to 1.8 m (5 ft 9 in) in height.
Robots with smiles and sneakers
One participating company noted that their robots closely resembled humans, sporting feminine features with the ability to wink and smile.
Chinese officials likened the event more to a motorsport competition, given the involvement of engineering and navigation teams who helped guide the robots along the course.
“The robots are running very well, very stable… I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI,” said spectator He Sishu, an artificial intelligence professional.
Some robots were accompanied by human trainers, while others relied on support equipment for balance and mobility during the race.
Adding to the spectacle, several robots sported running shoes, one wore boxing gloves, and another donned a red headband inscribed with the Chinese phrase “Bound to Win.”
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Humanoid robots race alongside humans in the Beijing half-marathon
Out of all the entries, the robot named Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, emerged as the fastest, finishing the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
For comparison, the men’s human winner completed the course in just 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Tang Jian, chief technology officer at the robotics center, credited Tiangong Ultra’s success to a combination of long legs and a specialized algorithm that mimics human running techniques.
“I don’t want to boast, but I think no other robotics firms in the West have matched Tiangong’s sporting achievements,” Tang said.
He added that Tiangong Ultra only required three battery swaps throughout the race.