Robot vs. human: Half marathon in Beijing causes a stir!

Robot vs. human: Half marathon in Beijing causes a stir!

On April 22, 2025, a remarkable half marathon took place in Beijing, China, pitting humanoid robots against human runners. This event was billed as the world's first half marathon with robots and caused quite a stir. Over 10,000 human participants registered to give their best on the 21.0975-kilometer route that passed through the Yizhuang district.

The robot “Tiangong” was the fastest of its kind, crossing the finish line after 2 hours, 40 minutes and 24 seconds. The fastest person, on the other hand, only needed 1 hour, 11 minutes and 7 seconds to reach the goal. The second robot followed almost an hour later, proving that the humanoid robots had no realistic chance of overall victory despite the impressive performance of the “Tiangong”.

Competition rules and technical challenges

A total of 20 companies and research institutions took part and had to develop robots that had at least two legs. During the race, engineers had the opportunity to make adjustments to the robots, but this resulted in time penalties. Some robots failed to take off and remained stranded, as shown in a broadcast on Chinese state television.

The event essentially served as a technical demonstration to test the suitability of humanoid robots. The focus was on challenges such as energy efficiency, robust components and autonomous motion control. Experts said that this competition tested the possible uses of humanoids and could therefore make a significant contribution to development.

Beijing as a hotspot for robotics and AI

The Chinese government has announced that it will particularly promote the development of artificial intelligence and robotics this year. The overarching strategy aims to give China's industry a technological edge in the field of humanoid robots. Analysts predict that the market for robots will be worth hundreds of billions of dollars in the coming decades, with annual sales of up to 50 million units possible by 2050.

In addition to the half marathon, the Chinese government has also initiated other innovative projects such as having robots perform folk dances to excite the public. Dog-like robots equipped with high-precision sensors are already patrolling Beijing. These developments could be interpreted as part of the technological rivalry between China and the USA.

Overall, the half marathon signals not only advances in robotics, but also China's ambitions in the global technology market. vol.at reports that the combination of man and machine created a unique picture that day. According to Spiegel, this event shows the potential of humanoid robots in practical use and the government's plans to promote further developments. [Heise].