China Challenges Humans with Humanoid Robots in Half-Marathon – One America News Network
By Eduardo Baptista and Alessandro Diviggiano
April 19, 2025 – 8:40 AM PDT
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BEIJING (Reuters) – For the first time, twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of participants in the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing, racing over a distance of 21 kilometers (13 miles).
The diverse range of robots from Chinese companies like DroidUP and Noetix Robotics varied in size, with some standing under 120 cm (3.9 ft) and others towering at 1.8 m (5.9 ft). One manufacturer claimed its creation closely resembled a human, featuring feminine traits along with the ability to wink and smile.
Several companies rigorously tested their robots for weeks in preparation for the event, which Beijing officials have likened to a race car competition due to the engineering and navigation work involved.
“The robots are performing exceptionally well and are quite stable … I feel like I’m witnessing the evolution of robotics and AI,” said bystander He Sishu, who specializes in artificial intelligence.
The robots had human trainers accompanying them, with some needing physical support during the race.
A handful of the robots sported running shoes, with one wearing boxing gloves and another adorned with a red headband that proclaimed “Bound to Win” in Chinese.
The event’s leading robot was Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, which completed the course in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The male human winner finished the race in 1 hour and 2 minutes.
The robotics center is 43% owned by two state-owned firms, with tech giant Xiaomi’s (1810.HK) robotics division and leading Chinese humanoid robot developer UBTech holding equal stakes in the remaining shares.
Tang Jian, chief technology officer of the robotics center, stated that Tiangong Ultra’s efficient performance was thanks to its long legs and an algorithm tailored to mimic human marathon running.
“I don’t mean to boast, but I don’t think any other robotics firms in the West have equaled Tiangong’s accomplishments in sports,” Tang remarked, noting that the robot only needed to change batteries three times during the entire race.
SOME ROBOTS STRUGGLE
While some robots like Tiangong Ultra finished successfully, others faced challenges from the outset. One robot tipped over at the start and remained down for several minutes before it could continue. Another collided with a railing after just a few meters, causing its human operator to lose balance.
Though humanoid robots have participated in marathons across China in recent months, this marks the inaugural occasion they have raced alongside human competitors.
China aims to harness investments in cutting-edge industries like robotics to cultivate new sources of economic expansion. However, some analysts argue that the participation of robots in marathons does not necessarily reflect their industrial viability.
Alan Fern, a professor specializing in computer science, artificial intelligence, and robotics at Oregon State University, suggested that the assertion by Beijing officials claiming this race signifies “AI breakthroughs” is misleading, as the software enabling humanoid robots to navigate was developed and showcased over five years ago.
“Chinese companies have primarily concentrated on demonstrating capabilities such as walking, running, dancing, and a variety of agile movements,” Fern commented.
“While these are intriguing showcases, they do not significantly illustrate the practical applications or core intelligence of the robots,” he added.
Tang, the CTO of the robotics center, noted, “Our future focus will be on industrial uses for humanoid robots so they can be integrated into factories, business environments, and eventually homes.”
(This story has been refiled to correct a typo in the second paragraph)
Reporting by Eduardo Baptista and Alessandro Diviggiano; Editing by Tom Hogue
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