China pits humanoid robots against humans in half-marathon for first time

Summary

Robots ran alongside humans for the first time in a half-marathon in Beijing, with 21 humanoid machines taking part in the 21km race. The robots, ranging in size and design—from short and quirky to human-like—were developed by Chinese companies and faced challenges like falls and technical issues during the event. The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes, showcasing advancements in robotic engineering. While some analysts question the practicality of robot marathons as a measure of industrial progress, China hopes such events will highlight its growing robotics sector and drive economic growth.

Additional Summaries

First Race of Its Kind: Humanoid robots from China made their debut at a half-marathon in Beijing, marking a historic moment as they raced alongside humans on a 21km course. With designs ranging from compact to imposing, these machines, including one featuring feminine traits and facial expressions like a smile or wink, caught the eye of spectators who marveled at their performance. Engineers accompanying them provided crucial support during the race, which saw some robots struggle initially but ultimately thrive. The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, demonstrated impressive endurance with its algorithm-crafted running style, earning cheers from the crowd as it crossed the finish line.

Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21km course. View image in fullscreen Engineers run with a humanoid robot. The winning robot was Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, with a time of 2hr 40min. View image in fullscreen A support technician falls as a humanoid robot crashes while running. Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesAlthough humanoid robots have made appearances at marathons in China over the past year, this is the first time they have raced alongside humans.

A record-breaking 21 humanoid robots raced alongside thousands of humans at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing, with varying sizes and some designed to mimic human appearance. The event was compared to a car race by organizers due to its engineering complexity. Spectators, including AI researcher He Sishu, praised the robots' performance, while some machines struggled during the race. The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, completed the 21-kilometre course with impressive speed and stability, highlighting China's growing interest in robotics as a driver of economic growth.

Twenty-one humanoid robots from Chinese manufacturers made their debut in a half-marathon alongside human runners, showcasing their impressive engineering skills. These robots, varying in height up to 1.8 meters, were rigorously trained and supported by human coaches who compared the event's demands to those of motor racing. The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, completed the race with an outstanding time of two hours and forty minutes. Meanwhile, the robotics center aims to leverage investments in frontier industries for economic growth, involving state-owned enterprises and tech giants like Xiaomi.

The debut of 21 humanoid robots in a half-marathon alongside thousands of human runners in Beijing marked a milestone, showcasing their potential to outperform humans. Robots from diverse manufacturers, including Tiangong Ultra developed by companies partly owned by state entities and tech giants, demonstrated impressive speed during the event. Despite some challenges, their performance was commendable. However, analysts remain uncertain about using marathons as a reliable indicator of robotic capabilities.

Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21-kilometre (13-mile) course. View image in fullscreen Engineers run with a humanoid robot. The winning robot was Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, with a time of 2hr 40min. View image in fullscreen A support technician falls as a humanoid robot crashes while running. Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesAlthough humanoid robots have made appearances at marathons in China over the past year, this is the first time they have raced alongside humans.

Additional Summaries

Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21-kilometre (13-mile) course. View image in fullscreen Engineers run with a humanoid robot. The winning robot was Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, with a time of 2hr 40min. View image in fullscreen A support technician falls as a humanoid robot crashes while running. Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesAlthough humanoid robots have made appearances at marathons in China over the past year, this is the first time they have raced alongside humans.