In context
In April 2025, China's robotics sector was accelerating public demonstrations of humanoid capabilities, aiming to showcase progress in AI and robotics. The Yizhuang Half-Marathon in Beijing provided a high-visibility platform to test bipedal locomotion and endurance outside the lab.
What was reported
Twenty-one humanoid robots from Chinese companies such as DroidUP and Noetix Robotics participated in the 21-kilometer race alongside thousands of human runners. Robots ran on a separate track, accompanied by human trainers who sometimes provided physical support.
The standout performer, Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, aided by a long-legged design and a running algorithm mimicking human gait. It required only three battery changes. The men's human winner finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Not all robots finished smoothly: one collapsed at the start and lay motionless for minutes, while another veered off course and collided with a barrier, taking down its handler. Robots varied in height from 1.2 to 1.8 meters, with some featuring human-like appearances.
Why it mattered
While experts like Alan Fern of Oregon State University noted that running software has existed for years, the event underscored China's push toward practical humanoid applications. Organizers compared it to race car competitions due to technical demands, with the long-term goal of integrating humanoids into factories and homes.
“A focus going forward for us will be industrial applications for humanoid robots.” — Tang Jian, CTO, Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics
Source: Robotics & Automation News (roboticsandautomationnews.com) · Published 2025-04-19 · “Humans race against humanoid robots in bizarre half-marathon”