BEIJING – In a historic tech-meets-sport moment, 21 humanoid robots ran alongside thousands of people at the E-Town Half Marathon in Beijing’s Yizhuang district on Saturday. It marked the first time robots participated competitively in a 21-kilometer (13-mile) road race with human athletes.
These mechanical runners came from companies like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics and varied widely in size—from under 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) to 1.8 meters (5.9 feet). One company showcased a lifelike robot with feminine features capable of smiling and winking.
Some manufacturers spent weeks prepping their robots for the endurance challenge. Officials likened the event more to a motorsport than a footrace, given the technical support teams required for navigation and maintenance.
Though humanoid robots have made appearances at past races in China, this was the first time they physically competed. The event reflects China’s push to lead in advanced technologies, using high-profile showcases to attract investment in robotics and AI.
However, some experts caution against reading too much into these displays. Alan Fern, a robotics professor at Oregon State University, noted that while the event showcases impressive hardware, the software enabling robots to run was developed years ago.
“This was more of an endurance test than an AI breakthrough,” Fern said. “It’s great for demos, but doesn’t prove real-world usefulness or intelligence.”