Humanoid Robots Compete Alongside Human Runners in Historic Half-Marathon: Here’s What Happened

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The race, held in China on Saturday, showcases the country’s advancements in humanoid technology. Still, only 6 of the 21 robot contestants made it across the finish line

Margherita Bassi – Daily Correspondent

April 21, 2025 2:48 p.m.

Over the weekend, Beijing was the site of what is hailed as the inaugural humanoid half-marathon—a unique competition where human runners faced off against lifelike robotic counterparts. The event, while a notable technological feat, offered a reassuring message to those concerned about robotic capabilities: these machines are not poised to surpass human endurance just yet.

Out of the 21 humanoid robots entered into the race, which took place among a crowd of thousands of human participants, only six successfully crossed the finish line. As noted by Wired’s Zeyi Yang, the robots had to adhere to specific criteria, running upright on two legs similar to their human competitors. To ensure their robots could last the duration of the event, teams could perform battery swaps at designated pit stops—much like in traditional car racing. In some instances, entire robots were swapped mid-race, incurring a time penalty, as reported by CNN‘s Chris Lau.

“The robots are running very well, very stable … I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and A.I.,” remarked He Sishu, an artificial intelligence professional and spectator, in an interview with Reuters’s Eduardo Baptista and Alessandro Diviggiano.

However, Alan Fern, a robotics expert from Oregon State University, expressed a more cautious perspective. He characterized the half-marathon as primarily a demonstration of hardware capability rather than a proof of artificial intelligence. Fern explained that while the event showcased impressive feats of mobility and agility, it did not illustrate any practical applications of intelligence or work efficiency.

The 13.1-mile course featured a special lane reserved for the robots, which proved beneficial as many competitors encountered difficulties—some toppled over, lost their heads, or spun out of control, often colliding with their operators. Fern admitted to being “very impressed” that any humaoid succeeded in completing the race within the time constraints, considering he initially doubted their ability to finish.

The standout of the event was Tiangong Ultra, the humanoid champion developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center. It crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, placing significantly behind the male winner, who completed the race in a swift 1 hour and 2 minutes. Nevertheless, Tiangong Ultra’s time still met the human minimum requirement of 3 hours and 10 minutes, albeit after making multiple battery exchanges and suffering one fall during the race.

In addition to the race outcomes, awards were also presented for categories such as innovative design, gait efficiency, and endurance, reflecting the event’s broader focus on technological innovation as pointed out by the Associated Press. CNN highlighted that this competition underscores China’s efforts to keep pace with the United States in perfecting and commercializing humanoid robotics.

Looking ahead, the event organizers might consider alternative competitions that better illustrate practical uses for humanoid technology. As Tang Jian, CTO of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, noted, future endeavors will focus more on industrial applications, aiming for robots to integrate into factories, business environments, and eventually, households.

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