Robots Join the Race: Humanoid Runners Compete in Chinese Half-Marathon Alongside Humans

BEIJING (AP) — During a minor milestone for robotickind—thousands of them, actually—a group of human-shaped robots participated in and ran alongside real people in a half-marathon held in China’s capital city on Saturday.

The different types of two-legged robots, ranging from small to large models, covered a distance of 21.1 kilometers (13.1 miles), with support from groups of human guides, controllers, and technicians assisting them along the way. According to those organizing the event, this setup marked an unprecedented occurrence. To ensure safety, each side utilized separate but adjacent routes divided by barriers.

As human participants adhered to standard regulations, the 20 teams competing with robots in the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon abided by specific rules, such as allowing for battery replacement pits.

The Sky Project Ultra robot, also referred to as Tien Kung Ultra and part of the Tien Kung team, emerged victorious amongst the nonhuman competitors, completing the race in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.