In a first-of-its-kind event, 21 human-shaped robots ran a half-marathon race alongside thousands of human runners in Beijing, China. According to Reuters, the race took place on Saturday, April 19, at the Yizhuang half-marathon event.
The winning robot, named Tiangong Ultra from the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, finished the 21-kilometer (13-mile) race in 2 hours and 40 minutes. This was much slower than the human winner, who finished in just 1 hour and 2 minutes.
What Are Humanoid Robots?
Humanoid robots are machines built to look and move like humans. They have legs, arms, and a head – similar to a person’s body. The robots in this race came from Chinese companies like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics. They varied in height from 120 centimeters (about 4 feet) to 1.8 meters (about 5 feet 11 inches).
Some of these robots even wore running shoes, just like human runners do! Each robot had a human trainer who walked alongside it during the race.
How Did Robots Compare to Human Runners?
The difference between robot and human performance was quite big:
- The human winner finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes
- The robot winner (Tiangong Ultra) finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes
- This means the robot took 98 minutes longer (1 hour and 38 minutes more) than the human
- Human runners averaged about 4 minutes and 45 seconds per kilometer
- Robots averaged about 7 minutes and 36 seconds per kilometer
About 12,000 human runners participated in the race. Many robots struggled during the race – some fell down or crashed. Unlike humans who can run the entire race without stopping, the robots needed to switch batteries during the race to keep going.
Special Technology That Helped Robots Run
The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, used a special computer program to help it run more like a human. This program has a complicated name: “State Memory-based Predictive Reinforcement Imitation Learning.” In simple words, it’s like a learning system that watches how humans run and then copies those movements.
Think of it like teaching a child to dance by showing them the steps and letting them practice. The robot:
- Watches how humans run
- Remembers these movements
- Uses special sensors (called “inertial measurement units” – these are like the sensors in your phone that know when you turn it) to stay balanced
- Has 3D vision to see what’s ahead
- Can recover if it stumbles
Tang Jian, the chief technology officer of the robotics center that created Tiangong Ultra, explained that their robot uses this special program to copy human running movements.
Why Is This Robot Race Important?
This race wasn’t just for fun. It showed several important things:
First, it demonstrated how far robot technology has come in China. The country is investing heavily in what they call “frontier industries” – new technologies that could shape the future.
Second, the race tested how well robots can handle long distances and different terrains. Running a half-marathon is challenging even for humans – it’s much harder for robots!
Third, these tests help develop better robots for factories and homes. The same technology that helps a robot run could also help it work in a factory or assist people at home.
The race also showed how robots are improving in several ways:
- Better high-torque motors (these are special motors that provide strong turning power, like having strong muscles)
- Improved artificial intelligence (computer brains)
- Better ability to adapt to different situations
Not Everyone Is Impressed
Some experts question whether these kinds of demonstrations are actually useful. They wonder if having robots run marathons really helps develop practical applications for everyday life.
However, the event certainly caught public attention and showed China’s efforts to lead in robotics technology.
As robot technology continues to improve, we might see more human-like robots not just in races, but in factories, homes, and other places. While they’re still much slower than humans at running, these robots show how quickly technology is advancing in trying to create machines that can move and work like people do.
