Humanoid robots are set to participate in a semi-marathon


Some 20 companies, universities, research institutes and robot clubs have already been approached for this project. To qualify for the race, the robots will have to be humanoid in shape and capable of running on two legs. — Photo by Nicolas Thomas on Unsplash

Soon, humanoid robots will be competing against human runners in a half marathon in Beijing. The aim is to test these robots' endurance and performance among a group of more or less seasoned athletes.

In April 2025, the Chinese capital will host the world's very first half marathon open to humanoid robots. They will compete against human athletes in a unique event. The event is expected to attract a total of some 12,000 runners and a handful of robots to the Daxing district.

Some 20 companies, universities, research institutes and robot clubs have already been approached for this project. To qualify for the race, the robots will have to be humanoid in shape and capable of running on two legs. They will also have to be between 50 cm and 2 meters tall, remote-controlled or fully autonomous. It has already been confirmed that a humanoid robot developed by Beijing's Robotics Innovation Center, Tiangong, will be taking part. On paper, it is currently the fastest humanoid robot in the world, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 12 km/h.

This event is a clear illustration of China's desire to showcase its expertise in the field of humanoid robots. Indeed, China is now positioning itself as a real leader in this sector, alongside the United States. Currently, all manufacturers are aiming to tackle the challenges of integrated intelligence and autonomy in order to make their creations stand out. And we are seeing the results with an ever greater number of robots now capable of learning and adapting to different environments as well as performing everyday tasks to help both individuals and businesses. However not all of them are capable of running fast. – AFP Relaxnews

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