Humanoid robots is preparing to run a half marathon!
Beijing, Apr 18 (EFE).- By Guillermo Benavides
In a plaza flanked by metal fences, under the spring sun, a group of humanoid robots is preparing for the unthinkable: running a half marathon.
On Saturday, the robots will take part in the race with human runners in the Yizhuang technological district of Beijing.
It is the world’s first race of its kind and seeks to test the coexistence between people and machines, according to the organizers.
This is not an exhibition, but rather a technical test in real conditions, on a 21-kilometer (13-mile) urban circuit with curves, slopes, and uneven surfaces, although the two types of athletes will be separated by designated lanes.
Nearly 20 humanoid robots will participate, accompanied by their technical teams and operators.
“It’s not just a race. It’s a global innovation platform. We want robotics to coexist with us,” said Liang Liang, vice president of the organizing committee.
Many of the competing robots were designed to walk, not run.
Their teams have spent weeks modifying algorithms, reinforcing structures, and testing on asphalt.
Some have been equipped with shock-absorbing shoes. Others will follow a human runner to keep pace.
“Our robot only walked. We had to teach it to run, and to do so over long distances,” explained the manager of DroidUp, one of the participating companies.
The comparison with Formula 1 is not accidental: the robots compete in a time trial format, with technical stops to change batteries or make adjustments.
The goal is to complete the distance without critical errors, not necessarily to finish first.
“It’s a real experiment, with uncertainties. That’s also the beauty of it,” Kong Yichen, one of DroidUp’s technicians, told EFE.
Among the participants training in the days leading up to the event is Tiangong, a 1.8-meter robot that participated in a human half marathon in Beijing in November as a “rabbit” – who leads the race for the first part of the distance – and “broom” who puts an end to the race. Back then, it only ran the first and last sections.
“Now the goal is for it to complete the entire race,” said one of its operators at Humanoid, Oliver Ji.
“We have had a little more time to prepare it and we are looking for stability throughout the race,” he added.
Tiangong symbolizes the evolution of these humanoids, from symbolic actors to real competitors.
The N2 model, from the company Noetix, has reached speeds of more than 3 meters-per-second in simulation, but in practice, it runs at 2.3 m/s.
However, its team isn’t just looking for speed: one of its two units that will start is designed to make its movement as human-like as possible. They even reinforced their ankles, just as a veteran runner would do before a marathon.
“In five years, robots will be able to run on par with humans,” said Cui Wenhua, a technician at Noetix, who had no hesitation in concluding that at this year’s edition, the fastest “will still be people.” Zhang Xianhua, 71, will run alongside the robots.
Arriving from Wuhan, he will be one of nearly 9,000 human participants in the traditional half marathon, according to figures provided by the organizers.
“This will be my 48th marathon,” the veteran, who only began engaging in this sport in 2018, told EFE.
“I never imagined sharing a race with machines, but after seeing them, I honestly believe that in the future they will run better than us,” he said, before jogging alongside one of his humanoid rivals in the upcoming event.
The event also seeks to strengthen China’s role in the global technology sector, amid growing restrictions from other countries, especially the US, who recently imposed tariffs of up to 245 percent on the Asian giant.
“This marathon is a platform that embraces the world,” said Liang. “We want to share advances in robotics with everyone, across borders.”
The Yizhuang Half Marathon is also a showcase of Beijing’s city model: a district where technology is integrated into urban routine, from running robots to those that teach, cook, or assist in operating rooms, and autonomous taxis.
Robots of all kinds are on display in the World of Robots exhibition park, from industrial to medical, educational, and domestic.
Among the race’s participants, some wear decorative boxing gloves “to attract attention,” while others are capable of performing somersaults.
Everyone is looking for more than just to make an impression, which it to be part of everyday life.
“We want to show that robots aren’t science fiction,” said Liang. “This marathon is just the first step.” EFE gbm/pd
