For the first time in history, bipedal robots will compete alongside human runners in the upcoming Beijing Half Marathon this April. The groundbreaking event, set to take place in Beijing’s Economic and Technological Development Zone (E-Town), is expected to attract 12,000 human participants and thousands of robots developed by leading robotics companies worldwide.
Top Robotics Companies Join the Race
Industry giants like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and 1X have already confirmed their participation, with their humanoid robots set to compete under specific regulations. To qualify, robots must:
- Resemble the human form
- Be between 0.5 to 2 meters in height
- Run or walk on two legs
Like their human counterparts, robots will compete for monetary prizes based on performance.
Can Robots Keep Up with Humans?
Experts believe that human runners still hold a significant advantage over robots. Current bipedal robots have an average speed of 8 to 12 km/h, whereas maintaining a steady pace of 14 km/h is necessary to complete the 21.1 km (13.1-mile) half marathon within 1.5 hours.
Another major challenge for robots is battery life. To address this, race organizers will allow battery swaps during the competition.
Not the First Robotic Entry in Marathons
While robots have participated in races before, this is the first time bipedal robots will compete in a marathon event. In 2023, a South Korean quadrupedal robot, Laibo 2, became the first to complete a full marathon on a single battery charge. However, since this upcoming race is exclusively for two-legged robots, it will not be eligible.
China’s humanoid robot, Tiangong, made headlines in October 2023 when it briefly joined human runners for a 100-meter sprint during the Yizhuang Half Marathon. This time, it is expected to attempt the full race.
As robotics technology continues to advance, this event marks a significant milestone in the integration of AI and human athleticism, paving the way for future innovations in sports and robotics.