When Robots Run: Beijing Hosts the First Humanoid Half-Marathon 🤖

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The Beijing Half-Marathon saw an unprecedented edition on Saturday, April 19, 2025. For the first time, humanoid robots lined up alongside 12,000 human runners. Held in the « E-Town » district, this event is presented as the world’s first of its kind to include this type of machine in an official race.

A Full-Scale Test for Chinese Robotics 🏃‍♂️

At the sound of pop music signaling the start, the robots set off with hesitant movements. Meanwhile, human participants on a parallel track recorded the unusual scene on their smartphones. Spectators witnessed some surreal moments, such as a small robot falling to the ground and managing to get back up on its own, or a Transformer-inspired robot crashing into a barrier and knocking over a technician.

About twenty teams from various Chinese provinces showcased their robots, ranging in height from 75 cm to 1.80 m and weighing up to 88 kg. Some of the humanoids were fully autonomous, while others were remotely operated by engineers. The goal wasn’t to compete for speed, but to complete the 21-kilometer course without external assistance.

The fastest robot, named Tiangong, finished the half-marathon in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds — a far cry from the times achieved by human athletes. But speed wasn’t the point. The creators aimed to test battery endurance, structural stability, motor resistance, and the effectiveness of navigation algorithms under real-life conditions.

A Showcase for China’s Tech Industry 🏭

Through events like this, Chinese tech companies want to demonstrate their ability to build machines that can gradually integrate into society.

According to Kong Yichang, an engineer at DroidUp, the experience helps lay the foundation for future coexistence between humans and robots in everyday tasks. For Cui Wenhao, from Noetix Robotics, real-life, long-distance, and varied-surface testing is essential to improving these machines.

China vs. the U.S. in the AI Race ⚙️

This initiative reflects Beijing’s broader strategy to position China as a global leader in AI and robotics. Amid growing technological competition with the United States, the country is ramping up innovation to assert its tech sovereignty.

Earlier in 2025, start-up DeepSeek made headlines by unveiling a conversational AI agent designed to cost less than those from major American firms. This robot half-marathon is part of a larger push to bring advanced technologies into everyday life.

What about you !?
Would you be ready to run alongside robots in a half-marathon? Tell us in the comments, like, and share! 😊