Humanoid robots compete alongside humans in a distinctive half-marathon event in China.

      You may have witnessed robots imitating the dance moves of music legend Mick Jagger, performing parkour, or even creating artwork. The arrival of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot has generated significant excitement, while Google and Meta are also gearing up to explore this domain. However, the competition in the East is on a whole different scale.

      China has recently tested humanoid robots in the world’s first race of its kind, where they raced alongside humans in a half-marathon. In total, 21 robots participated in the Yizhuang half-marathon after undergoing extensive supervised learning on outdoor surfaces.

      The event featured a variety of robotics companies displaying their creations. Some robots stood at a height of just 3.9 feet, while others reached a standard human height of 5.9 feet. Some robots stumbled, a few managed to get back on their feet unaided, while a handful required assistance from humans.

      Throughout the race, the humanoid robots navigated challenging terrains, including steep inclines, potholes, puddles, and smooth asphalt. Although battery changes were permitted, doing so would result in a significant penalty. Despite interventions from robotics and software experts, not all robots were able to complete the race.

      Did the robots outperform the humans?

      Not really, and the difference in performance was substantial. The human winner completed the half-marathon in just over one hour, while the best-performing humanoid robot finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

      This results in an average speed of 4.89 miles per hour. For perspective, Olympic champion Usain Bolt clocked a peak speed of 27.33 miles per hour during a track event in 2011. However, the objective was never to surpass human runners, even though the robot's performance exceeded the engineering team's expectations by about half an hour.

      The half-marathon in China served more as a display of the advancements made by local robotics companies. The winning humanoid robot, called Tiangong Ultra, was developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics.

      A significant achievement

      “I don’t mean to brag, but I believe no other robotics firms in the West have reached the same level of sporting success as Tiangong,” Tang Jian, the head of the company behind the winning robot, was quoted by Reuters.

      This is a state-backed enterprise in which Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi is a major investor. According to the South China Morning Post, the goal of the company is to become “the Android in the humanoid robot sector.” For the half-marathon, some modifications were made to enhance performance.

      “We reduced the robot's weight without sacrificing strength, optimized its leg design, and enhanced its thermal conductivity and air-cooling systems to improve stability and endurance,” Guo Yijie, a technician for the Tien Kung Ultra robot, stated to Xinhua.

      Participating firms and the organizers of the unique half-marathon emphasized that the primary aim is to demonstrate the integration of humanoid robots into human environments. These robots will soon transition from design labs to industrial applications, with the ultimate vision of integrating them into the average household as helpful assistants.