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China Hosts First Humanoid Robot Semi-Marathon, Showcasing AI and Robotics Ambitions

Tiangong Ultra wins the 21.1 km race in Beijing, highlighting advancements and challenges in humanoid robotics technology.

Des robots humanoïdes prennent le départ d'un semi-marathon historique à Pékin
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Overview

  • The world’s first humanoid robot semi-marathon took place in Beijing’s Yizhuang development zone on April 19, 2025, featuring 20 robots and 12,000 human runners.
  • Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, won the race in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, a far cry from human world records.
  • The event tested robots’ mobility, endurance, and battery performance over varied terrain, with Formula 1-style pit stops for battery swaps.
  • Several robots experienced stumbles and battery limitations, underscoring persistent technical hurdles in humanoid robotics development.
  • China framed the event as a milestone in its strategic push to industrialize humanoid robots, leveraging significant public investment and its E-Town innovation hub.