Robots to compete in upcoming Beijing marathon VIDEO

Beijing is set to host the world’s first human-robot half-marathon in April, bringing together 12,000 human runners and humanoid robots from over 20 companies in a groundbreaking competition.

The event, scheduled for April 13 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), marks a major milestone in the advancement of humanoid robotics.

Participating robots must have a humanoid appearance and be capable of walking or running on two legs, ruling out wheeled designs.

According to an article by the Australian News publication, remote-controlled, semi-autonomous, and fully autonomous robots are allowed to compete. The robots will run in a separate lane, with iron barriers and greenbelt isolations in place to ensure the safety of both human and robotic participants.

The race will have a cut-off time of three and a half hours, with prizes awarded to the top three finishers—whether human or robot. Additional awards will be given for categories such as best endurance and most popular appearance.

“During the race, robots are allowed to change batteries,” explained Li Quan, deputy head of E-Town’s management committee. Li emphasized that the event aims to do more than just entertain: “We hope that this event will not only showcase achievements in the humanoid robotics industry, but also spark discussions and deepen the public’s understanding of robot capabilities, which will help accelerate industry development.”

While this marathon is a first-of-its-kind event, China’s enthusiasm for humanoid robotics has been rapidly growing. In 2024, Beijing’s Humanoid Robot Innovation Center introduced Tiangong, a robot with a human-like physique capable of running smoothly. The Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center also developed a humanoid robot that successfully climbed 134 outdoor stairs. Meanwhile, a Chinese automaker has partnered with UBTECH to integrate humanoid robots into their factories, where they will be trained to perform tasks such as inspections, assembly, and configuration writing. According to the article, some of these breakthrough robots were previously spotted at the 2024 Beijing half-marathon.

The momentum doesn’t stop with the marathon. In 2025, Beijing will host the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Sports Games, an event dedicated to showcasing robotic athleticism. These games will allow humanoid robots to compete against each other in traditional human sports, further pushing the boundaries of robotic capabilities. Reports suggest that there will also be interactive side events where humans and robots compete together.

By Nazrin Sadigova