Tien Kung robot collects footwear performance data

The humanoid robot Tien Kung was seen testing running shoes for the first time on Thursday at the Li-Ning Sports Science Research Center in Beijing.

Developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, Tien Kung drew attention after claiming victory in the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon in the capital's E-town in April and the sprint at the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games in August.

"Humanoid robots are now preliminarily capable of running in a human-like way," said Yang Fan, senior director of the Li-Ning center. "This encouraged us to apply them to product development."

In the latest trial, the robot ran on a 3D force treadmill and a 200-meter track, collecting data on cushioning, rebounding, and other footwear performance indicators.

The robot offers a new dimension for sports product testing. Traditional methods typically involve capturing data from athletes over several weeks. Robots can deliver consistent and measurable results within a shorter period, according to Yang.

Sensors on Tien Kung provide detailed biomechanical information from hip, knee, and ankle joints, which is difficult to obtain through conventional athlete-based testing.

According to Liu Hao, brand manager at the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, the data support Li-Ning's footwear development and feed back into advancing humanoid robotics.

The partners plan to build a professional running shoe database with evaluations on cushioning, rebounding, and other indicators to support R&D and consumer recommendations.