China Hosts First-Ever Half-Marathon Featuring Humanoid Robots

April 22, 2025 | 09:21 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - For the first time in history, China held a running competition featuring humanoid robots as the main participants.

This landmark event took place on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA).

In the race, humanoid robots competed in a half-marathon, covering the official distance of 21.0975 kilometers. Although the robots ran on a separate track from human runners, they followed the same route.

The event brought together 20 teams from various technology institutions and companies, each showcasing the endurance and technical sophistication of their robots in facing real-world outdoor challenges.

The winner of the race was "Tiangong Ultra," a humanoid robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. The robot completed the course in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, outperforming its competitors and finishing the race ahead of predictions.

"Tiangong Ultra crossed the finish line about 30 minutes earlier than expected. All the robots today performed great basically in dealing with challenges such as turns and speed bumps. We made history together," said Xiong Youjun, CEO of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

The humanoid robot race was originally scheduled for April 13, 2025, but was postponed due to severe weather warnings about strong winds affecting the Beijing area.

The one-week delay gave participating teams additional time to retest and improve the structural and control systems of their robots.

One of the teams that faced technical difficulties was the Xuanfeng Xiaozi Team. During a previous 21-kilometer test run, a critical component of their robot failed.

"During a 21 km 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," explained team leader Cui Wenhao.

The robots featured a variety of designs, differing in height, weight, and specifications tailored to their intended functions. Beyond the race, these humanoid robots are also being developed for future applications in strategic sectors including industrial manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

The event also captured the attention of local sports authorities. Zhao Fuming, Director of the Beijing Marathon Association, viewed the presence of robots in the marathon as an opportunity to enhance innovation and attract public interest.

"Robots highlighted the race indeed. More cities may learn from such experience to integrate new concepts into marathon. However, robots may not necessarily participate as runners. They can also give a hand in security checking or other operation tasks," he said.

After completing the marathon, the robots and their teams attended the awards ceremony.

During this moment, one robot stepped forward to symbolically carry the medals to be awarded to winners and participants, illustrating how human-machine interaction is now entering new symbolic and ceremonial realms.

Editor's Choice: Nvidia CEO: Humanoid Robot Revolution Is Closer than You Think

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