Beijing is the venue for the inaugural half-marathon for humanoid robots, with Tiangong Ultra finishing the race in two hours and 40 minutes.

      Credit: CCTV

      On Saturday, the inaugural half-marathon for humanoid robots took place in Beijing. This event, which combined technology and sports, featured 20 teams from Chinese universities, companies, and research institutions, alongside approximately 12,000 human participants. The Tiangong Robot Ultra, created by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, completed the 21-kilometer course in two hours and 40 minutes, maintaining a consistent speed of seven to eight km/h, thus securing first place.

      Significance: The race aimed to highlight a pivotal moment for humanoid robots by advancing essential technologies such as joint heat resistance and environmental awareness in various conditions. However, the performance of certain robots raised concerns about their commercialization prospects. Despite challenges related to cost, energy efficiency, and reliability, embodied AI continues to represent a promising long-term field in China.

      Details: The robot racecourse was separate from the human track, but ran parallel to it. The race was livestreamed by the state-owned broadcaster CCTV on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Teams were allowed to swap out batteries or switch to backup robots, incurring a 10-minute time penalty for doing so. To assess the robots’ adaptability and consistency, the course included different types of terrain, such as flat surfaces, nine-degree slopes, gravel, and grass.

      Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center—collaboratively established by UBTECH, Xiaomi, and other partners—took the lead. Standing 1.8 meters tall and weighing 55 kilograms, the robot can achieve a maximum speed of 12 km/h. Its lightweight design, along with integrated joints and an air-cooling system, helps prevent joint overheating during extended runs. With three battery changes throughout the race, Tiangong Ultra successfully finished the 21-kilometer track in two hours and 40 minutes.

      Unitree Robotics addressed the concerns surrounding the performance of its G1 robot in the half-marathon by clarifying that it did not compete in the event. Footage showing a G1 robot collapsing shortly after the race began became one of the many viral clips online.

      “Some third-party teams operated the robot, which fell at the start due to mishandling. Our company has not participated in any recent robot competitions as we are currently focused on preparing a humanoid robot combat livestream project,” stated Unitree Robotics. They elaborated that such events require extensive preparation over several months and, due to commitments in ongoing research, development, and commercialization, they did not assemble an official team for the race.

      Context: In January, Unitree Robotics attracted considerable attention after its humanoid robot H1 performed at the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, demonstrating agility and coordination during a dance sequence. This marked the first time many viewers witnessed Chinese robots in a mainstream performance. The company plans to launch the world’s first humanoid robot combat livestream between late April and early May, aiming to showcase advanced movements such as boxing and side flips.

      Jessie Wu is a tech reporter based in Shanghai, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can connect with her via e-mail: [email protected]