Counting down to the world's first humanoid robot half marathon

Beijing will host the world's first humanoid robot half marathon on April 19 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), bringing together nearly 20 teams from across China.

The event marks a real-world test for humanoid robots running with human runners over the 21-kilometer half marathon course.

Liang Liang, director of the management committee of the Beijing E-Town, said the marathon is more than a race — it's a platform for testing, showcasing and promoting humanoid robots, gathering robots with diverse forms and capabilities.

"This is the world's first open-field half marathon for humanoid robots," he said. "It's not just about speed, but also about the endurance, stability, communication systems, battery management and adaptability to complex outdoor conditions."

Teams from leading universities, research institutes and enterprises have spent four months preparing their robots for the challenge. Some robots are built for autonomous movement, while others will be controlled by human teammates.

"Our robots will run autonomously with team members nearby monitoring," said Guo Yijie, the technical lead of the Tiangong team.

The team trained the robots to strike a balance between speed, stability and natural movement. To manage heat during the race, they developed their robots' joint torque control, real-time adaptation and cooling systems.

"Our robot is compact and lightweight. We focused on increasing step frequency and mechanical stability so that it can run faster and consistently," said Qin Bangyu, the algorithm engineer for the Xuanfeng Boy Team.

Qin added that this marathon is a chance for the team to test and refine their robots' endurance algorithm for the first time over long distances. It will provide insights into their hardware and software performance, supporting future development in their medical and elderly care applications.

According to Liang, the marathon will help people understand the humanoid robots' limits and possibilities, paving the way for future research and applications.

"It also offers a shared opportunity for progress, welcoming global collaborators in humanoid robotics to join the journey," he said.