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Despite advanced technology, humanoid robots faced physical limitations and fell behind human runners in a pioneering experiment that tested endurance and coordination in a 21 km race.
For the first time in history, humanoid robots officially participated in a half marathon alongside humans. The event took place last Saturday (19), in Beijing, China, bringing together 21 robots programmed to run 21 kilometers on a track parallel to that of the 12 human participants. Despite recent advances in robotics, the robots have not been able to reach human performance, demonstrating that there is still a long way to go to surpass the natural physical capabilities of athletes.
The event served as both a scientific experiment and a showcase for Chinese technological advances in robotics. It was organized by Chinese universities and technology companies and ran alongside the city's traditional half marathon.
Humanoid robots ran alongside 12 humans in Beijing
A robot half marathon was held on an exclusive track, created especially to maintain the safety of human participants and avoid collisions. The parallel track was equipped with sensors and signs that helped the machines maintain direction and monitor the distance.
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The humanoid robots were developed by different Chinese research institutions, each with its own movement and control characteristics. The androids could have their batteries changed during the race, unlike the humans, who only had access to traditional hydration points along the route.
Tiangong Ultra robot was the first to cross the finish line
Among the 21 robots that participated, the Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, was the first to complete the course. The robot, which is 1,80 meters tall, took two hours and forty minutes to complete the 21 kilometers. By comparison, the winner of the human men's race completed the half marathon in 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Tiangong Ultra’s superior performance over other robots was attributed to its motion control algorithm and physical structure with longer legs, which gave it greater stride efficiency. However, the robot required human assistance on sections with slight slopes, which pose significant challenges for machines with a high center of gravity.
Humanoid robot technology still faces physical limitations
Although humanoid robots have demonstrated remarkable autonomous movement capabilities, the results of the race highlighted the current technological limitations of these systems compared to the human body. Uneven terrain, inclines and even fine balance adjustments still require external intervention in many cases.
Another obstacle observed was the energy resistance: the robots needed multiple battery changes during the journey. While human athletes make use of biological energy reserves and metabolic control, machines still depend on external components and technical stops.
Humanoid robot race draws global attention to Chinese advances
O performance of humanoid robots in the test it caught the attention of robotics experts in Europe, United States and Japan, regions that also invest heavily in the development of androids. The Chinese initiative was praised as a practical and realistic way to test robots in environments with real physical challenges, which rarely occurs in controlled laboratories.
In recent years, China has been expanding its efforts to become a global leader in the robotics sector, with public and private initiatives focused on the application of humanoid robots in areas such as logistics, security, health and education. Holding events like this serves as a practical demonstration of what these machines are already capable of doing — and how far they still need to evolve.
Robots had already gained prominence with acrobatics and martial arts
The race came after months of videos of Chinese humanoid robots went viral on social media, showing machines performing acrobatics, martial arts moves and even bicycle stunts. These records show that androids have been gaining refinement in their locomotion, balance and motor control systems.
The half marathon was therefore a way to put these advances to the test in an activity that requires prolonged endurance, dynamic motion adjustment and response to multiple external conditions — including temperature, slope and terrain.
Humanoids do not yet surpass humans, but show steady progress
A difference between the time of robots and human athletes shows that robotic systems still have significant performance limitations, especially in long-distance races. However, the fact that they complete 21 kilometers is already considered a milestone in the field of robotics applied to bipedal mobility.
According to the organizers, the The goal was not to compete with humans, but rather to create a new evaluation metric for progress in the field of autonomous robots. The expectation is that similar events will occur annually, with constant improvements in the performance of the androids.
China aims to lead global robotics industry
Robotics technology in China is part of the country's broader strategic plan to lead emerging sectors, including artificial intelligence, industrial automation and advanced manufacturing. Humanoid robots play a central role in this plan, with tax incentives, partnerships between universities and startups, and support from the central government.
According to data from China's Ministry of Industry, the country already accounts for more than 50% of global production of industrial robots, and is now also looking to advance in robots for civilian use and service robotics.
