BEIJING, China. In a groundbreaking blend of technology and athleticism, humanoid robots shared the spotlight with human runners at a half-marathon held in the Chinese capital on Saturday, marking a unique first in the world of distance running.
Covering the full 21.1 kilometers (13.1 miles), bipedal robots of various shapes and sizes ran alongside thousands of flesh-and-blood competitors. The event, described by organizers as a historic milestone, featured a dual-course system: one lane for humans and a parallel lane reserved for the mechanical participants, separated by a divider for safety.
The Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon involved 20 robot teams, each supported by dedicated human navigators, engineers, and operators. Unlike their human counterparts, the robots competed under customized rules, including scheduled pit stops for battery swaps, essential for sustaining their energy-intensive mechanical strides.
Taking the top spot in the robot race was the Sky Project Ultra, also known as Tien Kung Ultra, developed by the Tien Kung Team. The humanoid machine completed the course with a finishing time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.
Apart from overall ranking, the event also celebrated design and innovation with awards for Best Endurance, Best Gait Design, and Most Innovative Form.
Event organizers lauded the competition as “a new frontier where athletic performance meets artificial intelligence,” highlighting the growing integration of robotics into everyday human experiences.
This pioneering event not only captured the imagination of the crowd but also pointed to the future of robotics in sports and public life.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
- Carlo Juancho Funtanillahttps://tutubi.ph/author/carlojpf/
