Humanoid Robots run first-ever half-marathon in Beijing

Sharjah 24 – AFP: Beijing reached a new frontier in technology and athletics on Saturday as humanoid robots completed the world’s first half-marathon alongside human participants. Held in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, the 21.0975-kilometer race saw robots running on separate tracks but following the same route as humans.

Tiangong Ultra leads the robotic pack

Tiangong Ultra, a humanoid robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, finished first among 20 robotic teams with a time of 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.

“Tiangong Ultra crossed the finish line about 30 minutes earlier than expected,” said Xiong Youjun, CEO of the Innovation Centre, as quoted by Xinhua News Agency. “All the robots today performed great, especially in dealing with challenges such as turns and speed bumps. We made history together.”

Overcoming technical challenges

Originally slated for April 13, the race was postponed due to strong winds, giving teams additional time to refine their robots’ mechanics and control systems.

Cui Wenhao, leader of the Xuanfeng Xiaozi Team, shared a key technical fix: “During a 21km trial, a screw connecting the ankle motor and linkage snapped at the 15km mark. We reinforced the part with three positioning pins — no issues since.”

Future applications beyond racing

Despite their varied heights and weights, these humanoid robots are being developed for practical roles beyond racing, including applications in manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

Zhao Fuming, Director of the Beijing Marathon Association, noted, “Robots highlighted the race indeed. More cities may learn from such experiences to integrate new concepts into marathons. However, robots may not necessarily participate as runners — they can also assist in tasks like security checks and operations.”