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Despite advancements in robotics, humanoid robots still lag significantly behind human athletes in endurance races. A recent event in Beijing showcased this disparity. The E-Town technology zone hosted what was billed as the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon this past Saturday, featuring 21 robots competing alongside human participants.
Humanoid Robots Compete in Half-Marathon
According to reports from Bloomberg News, the top-performing robot, named Tiangong Ultra, completed the 21-kilometer course in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Tiangong Ultra was developed by X-Humanoid, a research institute backed by the Chinese government. While this time secured a victory among the robots, it pales in comparison to human runners. The fastest human in the same race finished in a swift 1 hour and 2 minutes. For context, many recreational runners routinely complete half-marathons in under two hours.
Tiangong Ultra’s Performance and Assistance
Interestingly, Tiangong Ultra’s victory was not entirely autonomous. The robot relied on guidance from a human runner who preceded it, carrying a signaling device. This allowed the robot to mimic the human’s pace and movements. In contrast, most other participating robots were remotely operated, with human controllers running alongside them.
Challenges and Setbacks for Other Robot Runners
The majority of the robotic competitors required at least three hours to finalize the half-marathon. Bloomberg indicates that only four robots successfully concluded the race within the four-hour time limit. Several robots encountered significant difficulties. One robot, Shennong, notably stumbled, tripping a human support runner before colliding with a fence and sustaining damage. Another participant, Little Giant, the smallest robot at 30 inches tall, briefly halted due to smoke emanating from its head.
Participants and Event Details
The Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half Marathon featured entrants from various Chinese entities, including corporations and university student teams. Unitree, a robotics company, experienced a setback when its G1 robot fell at the starting line. The company clarified that the unit was being operated by a client without Unitree’s proprietary algorithms.
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Race Regulations and Logistics
Competition rules mandated that robots possess a humanoid form and be capable of bipedal locomotion. Robots were assigned a separate, fenced-off running lane from the human athletes, with staggered start times implemented as a safety measure to minimize collisions. Battery replacements were permitted during the race; Tiangong Ultra underwent three battery changes. Moreover, teams were even allowed to substitute robots, subject to a time penalty.
X-Humanoid CTO’s Statement on Robotic Achievement
Tang Jiang, Chief Technology Officer at X-Humanoid, conveyed confidence in his team’s accomplishment. Speaking to Reuters, Mr. Tang stated, “I don’t want to boast but I think no other robotics firms in the West have matched Tiangong’s sporting achievements.”