A phenomenon of sorts that was never seen before: numerous humanoid robots took their positions along with thousands of human runners during the half marathon held in Beijing last Saturday. Not out of a sci-fi flick, this was a digital manifestation of the muscular strength that China gains in its tech segment.
The 21-km marathon featured over 21 humanoid robots from the top private companies as well as leading universities, such as the prestigious Tsinghua University, and it was held in the Daxing district of the city. These were not just empty machines for display, as they were moving on their paths trying to follow the human runners.
Not Just for Show but Into the Variable Test for Robot Technology:
This is the first instance when humanoid robots officially ran along with humans in a Chinese marathon. According to sources, there were two categories of robots, fully autonomous and semi-automated. Some robots were controlled manually, while others depended on AI to run.
It tumbled over! But it quickly regained balance and resumed racing! This is the World's First Humanoid Robot Half Marathon! #Beijing #robot #marathon #机器人马拉松 pic.twitter.com/Qfiq6AhKSU
— Beijing Daily (@DailyBeijing) April 19, 2025
But this interesting event isn’t just fun – it was a serious tech challenge: robots had to make their battery swaps and run the distance alone or as part of a relay team. This challenge tested their motion control as well as their understanding of the environment and their energy efficiency in working.
The Robot Champion:
Although Tiangong Ultra crossed the finish line in about 2 hours and 40 minutes, it is an advanced humanoid robot built by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre. Significantly slower than human winner Elias Desta of Ethiopia, whose time was 1 hour 2 minutes, still, it is a great advancement in the robot world.
Why Bet on Bots in China:
The rationale behind this investment is that humanoid robots will help the country to grow economically by decreasing its reliance on foreign technology. With ageing population and shrinking workforce, robots can substantially help in care from industrial support to medical.
This half-marathon was more than an experiment in technology. It was a prognostication of the future – where, perhaps, humans will not only work alongside machines, but run with them.
