On Saturday in Beijing, dozens of two-legged robots lined up beside 12,000 human runners for the world’s first humanoid half-marathon.
The result? Humans sprinted ahead, leaving their robotic rivals trailing by a wide margin.
THE ROBOT VS. HUMAN RACE
The 21-kilometre race (about 13 miles) took place in the city’s E-Town, a buzzing tech hub.
The event was a bold test of how far robotics has come and a glimpse into a future where machines and people might one day compete on equal footing.
As the starter’s pistol fired and Chinese pop music echoed through the streets, the robots took their first tentative steps.
ROBOTS PUT IN THEIR BEST EFFORT
Some wobbled. One small android toppled over, lay on the ground for a few minutes, then stood up again, earning cheers from the crowd.
Most robots needed a human helper jogging close by, hands hovering in case of a fall. Some were even tethered for safety.
The fastest robot, Tiangong Ultra, finished the race in two hours and 40 minutes, according to CNN.
That’s impressive for a machine, but still nearly two hours slower than the human world record of 56 minutes and 42 seconds.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
The top human on the day crossed the line in just over an hour, about half the time of the robot champion.
To put it in perspective, the robot’s time would have placed it well behind the average South African club runner.
The robots faced real-world challenges: slopes, tight corners, and the need for multiple battery swaps. Each battery change costs teams precious time.
“The aid stations mainly support participating teams by providing battery replacements, safety equipment, and auxiliary tools,” said Wang Guolin, Deputy Head of the Robot Competition Group.
SPEED AND STABILITY
Guo Yijie, technical lead for the Tiangong team, explained, “Our robots will run autonomously with team members nearby monitoring.”
The team focused on balancing speed and stability, tweaking algorithms to keep the robots upright and moving smoothly.
ROBOTS AND THE HUMAN SPIRIT
Liang Liang, director of the E-Town management committee, summed up the spirit of the event.
“It’s not just about speed, but also about endurance, stability, communication systems, battery management and adaptability to complex outdoor conditions.”
Technology is racing ahead, but the human spirit is still in the lead. For now, robots might be able to dance, flip, and even run, but when it comes to marathons, they’re still chasing our dust.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ROBOTS COMPETING IN HUMAN SPORTS EVENTS?
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