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World’s First Human-Robot Half-Marathon Concludes in Beijing

Tiangong Ultra leads humanoid robots, finishing in 2 hours 40 minutes, as event marks a milestone in robotics development.

Tiangong Ultra, a humanoid robot, runs across the finish line while securing the first position during the E-Town Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, in Beijing, China, on April, 19 2025.
One of the robots waves to the crowd. Photo: Xinhua
Image
Robots take part in what is billed as the world's first robot half marathon during the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon held in Beijing, China, on April 19, 2025.

Overview

  • The inaugural human-robot half-marathon in Beijing featured 21 humanoid robots racing alongside thousands of humans over a 21-kilometer course.
  • Tiangong Ultra, the fastest robot, finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes, significantly slower than the human men's winner at 1 hour and 2 minutes.
  • Robots faced real-world challenges including uneven terrain, wind, and technical difficulties, with some requiring human assistance during the race.
  • The event, organized by Beijing E-Town, aimed to showcase advancements in humanoid robotics and embodied AI as part of China's push for industrial applications.
  • While organizers celebrated the technological milestone, experts noted the race primarily demonstrated hardware endurance rather than breakthroughs in AI utility.