The city of Beijing, China, recently hosted a half marathon race covering a distance of 21.0975 kilometers in the economic and technological development zone of Beijing. What set apart this particular half marathon race was the inclusion of humanoid robots running alongside human participants.
These humanoid robots, with a strikingly human-like appearance, ran on a separate track from the human runners, starting at the same time with an equal distance to cover. With the continuous movement required to complete the 21-kilometer distance within 3 hours and 30 minutes, the race presented a variety of challenges including straight paths, curves, and diverse terrain. Developing a bipedal running robot that remains robust with no dislodged parts proved to be quite a challenge.
A total of 21 humanoid robots participated in the race, with four of them successfully reaching the finish line. The ultimate winner was the Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, which completed the race in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, aided by three battery replacements and design modifications to enhance running efficiency.
The Tiangong Ultra’s finish time was longer than that of the first human participant to cross the finish line, who completed the race in just 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 36 seconds – showcasing the progress and potential of humanoid robot development. China aims to lead in humanoid robot development by 2027, with the goal of utilizing robots not only in competitive events like marathons but also for various assistance roles in the future.
TLDR: A humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra won the Beijing half marathon with a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes, demonstrating advancements in robotic technology and China’s ambition to lead in humanoid robot development by 2027.
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