Chinese-Made Humanoid Robots Showcase Rapid Progress at Beijing Half Marathon

AP

Humanoid robot running in a half-marathon in Beijing.

Dozens of Chinese-made humanoid robots demonstrated their rapidly advancing athletic abilities as they raced alongside human runners in a half-marathon in Beijing on Sunday, marking a dramatic improvement from a year earlier.

The inaugural event last year was plagued by technical difficulties, with many robots struggling to leave the starting line and most failing to complete the course.

This year, however, progress was clear. The number of participating robots rose from 20 to more than 100, with several contenders showing speeds that surpassed many of the professional athletes competing in the human race.

To ensure safety, robots and human runners competed on parallel tracks.

The winning robot, developed by Honor, completed the race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Although it stumbled into a railing just metres from the finish line and required assistance to stand again, it still crossed the line several minutes faster than the world record of Jacob Kiplimo, set last month in Lisbon.

By comparison, the fastest robot in last year’s race recorded a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes, while the human winner of the conventional race finished in less than half that time.

While commercially viable uses for humanoid robots remain largely in the testing phase, the event highlighted their growing potential for roles ranging from hazardous industrial work to future technological applications.

China has identified humanoid robotics as a strategic industry and introduced a range of measures, including subsidies and infrastructure support, to strengthen domestic companies.

The country’s ambitions were also showcased during February’s annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala, where more than a dozen humanoid robots developed by Unitree Robotics performed an elaborate martial arts routine using swords, poles and nunchucks alongside child performers.

Source: The Guardian



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