• Beijing hosted the first-ever half-marathon featuring humanoid robots racing alongside humans.
• The event included 21 robots from various companies competing in a 21 km race.
• Winning robot Tiangong Ultra completed the course in 2 hours and 40 minutes.
• Despite some successes, many robots struggled with balance and technical issues during the race.
• This event aims to showcase China's advancements in humanoid robotics technology and its potential applications.

In a groundbreaking showcase of technology, Beijing held the world's first half-marathon featuring humanoid robots running alongside thousands of human participants. The Yizhuang half-marathon on Saturday drew interest as 21 humanoid robots from various Chinese manufacturers competed on a 21 km (13-mile) route, all dedicated to demonstrating the progress in robotics and artificial intelligence, according to South China Morning Post.

The robots varied in size, some standing between 1.2 to 1.8 meters tall, with unique designs including humanoid features like the capacity to wink and smile. Prior to the race, many of the participating robots underwent extensive training and testing to prepare for the demanding course, which was referenced as needing engineering teams, similar to motorsport races, according to reports from Channel News Asia.

The Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, emerged as the victor among robots, completing the race in a time of approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes. However, this was vastly slower than the human winner, who crossed the finish line in just over an hour, illustrating the gap in performance capabilities between robots and humans, detailed Al Jazeera.

While some robots successfully navigated the route, many struggled with balance and performance, requiring support from human trainers throughout the race. Incidents occurred, including robots requiring physical assistance after falling or crashing into barriers, showcasing both the potential and limitations of current robotic technology, as outlined by The Jakarta Post.

This unique event encompasses not just a race but a significant step in advancing technology, expressing China's ambition to lead in humanoid robotics. The overarching goal is to foster public understanding of robot capabilities, which could accelerate industry development and pave the way for integrating robotics into more sectors, emphasized a government spokesperson, as referenced in coverage by Business Insider.