World's first humanoid robot half marathon to kick off in Beijing

(ECNS) — The first half marathon for humanoid robots is set to take place on Saturday in Beijing's Yizhuang area, with final preparations underway.

On the evening of March 28, six teams conducted their first on-site road tests along the marathon route. These teams, including Tiangong Robot from Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, account for nearly a quarter of all registered participants. The first robot to complete the test finished the course in approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes.

The 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon will see humanoid robots and human athletes start simultaneously. To ensure safety, organizers will separate the lanes using guardrails and greenbelts, allowing both groups to share the same route while running on designated tracks.

The robot race will cover the full 21.0975-kilometer half marathon distance, with seven supply stations along the course.

"Each station will provide battery replacements, safety equipment, and auxiliary tools," said Wang Guolin, deputy head of the humanoid robot competition group.

Referees and support teams will accompany the robots throughout the race to handle any emergencies, he added.

Unlike traditional indoor or lab-based testing, the outdoor marathon serves as a comprehensive test of humanoid robot functionality in complex real-world environments.

"The robot marathon represents not only a race of technology but also the starting point for industrial breakthroughs," said Liang Liang, deputy director of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area Administrative Committee.

As humanoid robots evolve from basic road tests to long-distance challenges, they face growing demands regarding sensors, computing power, and algorithm efficiency. Many robots participating in the event were not initially developed for endurance sports, making the race a valuable opportunity for overall performance evaluation.

"This event allows us to assess mobility, stability, posture, energy use, and control algorithms in a single scenario," said Wang. "Through this platform, we hope to accelerate the growth of the embodied robotics industry."

(By Zhao Li)