Humanoid Robots Take on Half-Marathon in China: A Bumpy Road to Progress
Beijing, China – In a groundbreaking, albeit chaotic, event, humanoid robots competed against humans in a half-marathon, showcasing both the potential and the current limitations of robotics [[2]]. The race,held on April 19,2025,featured a diverse array of bipedal machines,each with its own unique design and set of challenges [[3]].
The Winners and the… Not-So-Winners
The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, from the beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, completed the 13.1-mile course in 2 hours and 40 minutes [[2]]. In contrast, the men’s winner of a separate race completed the half-marathon in 1 hour and 2 minutes [[2]]. Another robot, N2, made by Chinese company Noetix Robotics, secured second place, both robots distinguished by their consistent, if slow, pace.
However, not all robots fared so well. One robot named Huanhuan, equipped with a human-like head, moved at a snail’s pace while its head shook uncontrollably. Another, Shennong, described as resembling a real Frankenstein’s monster
, sported a Gundam-like head and four drone propellers.shennong promptly twirled in two circles after taking off from the starting line, hit the wall, and dragged down its human operators with it.
creative Engineering and Problem-Solving
The robots came in various sizes, the shortest being only 2 feet and 5 inches tall, a crowd favourite in a blue and white tracksuit, waving to onlookers. The tallest was Tiangong Ultra,standing at 5 feet 9 inches. All robots were required to be bipedal,leading to a range of creative engineering solutions.
- Some robots wore kid-sized sneakers, screwed to their pedals.
- Others had knee pads for protection during falls.
- Many had their fingers removed, and some were even missing heads to reduce weight and strain on motors.
duct tape emerged as the most effective problem-solving tool. Human operators used it to create makeshift shoes and reattach heads that repeatedly fell off during the race.
Human Assistance Required
Each robot was accompanied by two or three human operators. Some operators used control panels to adjust the robot’s speed, while others cleared obstacles. Many robots were guided using what were described as pet leashes.
You wanna think of these robots more like running a remote control car through the race. But the robots don’t have wheels,
Fern
Beyond Dancing and Karate: The Real Value of Humanoid Robots
While the spectacle of dancing and karate-performing robots may be entertaining, their true value lies in their ability to perform practical, real-world tasks. According to Fern, running a half-marathon isn’t a notably useful benchmark for humanoid robot skills.
But I would expect to see China shifting this year to focusing more on doing useful things, because people are going to be bored of dancing and karate,
Fern
fern believes the key benchmarks are how well robots can handle diverse tasks without constant human instruction.
FAQ: Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon
- What was the winning robot’s time?
- 2 hours and 40 minutes.
- What was a key requirement for robots in the race?
- They had to be bipedal.
- What was the most effective problem-solving tool used?
- Duct tape.
- How many human operators accompanied each robot?
- two or three.
