China is preparing to host the world's first half-marathon, where human runners will go head-to-head with humanoid robots.
Scheduled for April, this race will see 12,000 human participants and bipedal robots from over 20 companies compete across a 13-mile course in Beijing's Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as E-Town.
"Competing robots must have a humanoid appearance and mechanical structure capable of bipedal walking or running movements," E-Town officials said, who explained that wheels are prohibited for robotic racers. Eligible robots must range from 1.5 to 6.5 feet.
This futuristic race marks the first official competition where humans and robots go head-to-head. Yet, it isn't China's first brush with integrating humanoid robotics into sports.
In a trial run last fall, Tiangong, a bipedal robot named after China's "heavenly palace" space station, participated in the Beijing Yizhuang half-marathon. Though it covered only 100 meters, the robot received a medal for completing the event, per The Byte.
A robotic quadruped named RAIBO2 also made headlines by running a full marathon in South Korea, completing the grueling 26.2-mile race in just over four hours. Despite this impressive feat, RAIBO2 is ineligible for April's race due to its non-bipedal design. Instead, Tiangong is gearing up for a full-fledged run at this upcoming event, with an anticipated speed of up to 6.2 miles per hour, according news agency Xinhua.
The event is part of China's broader push to spotlight its advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence. E-Town's marathon is just the beginning; in August, Beijing will host an all-robot sporting extravaganza, featuring not only races but also football and other competitive showcases of robotic skill, as reported by The Byte.
Beijing's E-Town is a well-known robotics hub and houses over 140 companies that collectively generate nearly 10 billion yuan ($1.37 billion) in output, and that's only half of Beijing's total robotics production. The area has cultivated a comprehensive robotics industry ecosystem, spanning core components, complete machines and advanced applications.
"Moving forward, Beijing E-Town will focus on advancing cutting-edge embodied artificial intelligence technologies, industrializing high-end humanoid products, and fostering a top-tier innovation ecosystem," E-Town officials said.
The district's roadmap includes introducing targeted support measures for robotics, optimizing industrial spaces and enhancing public service platforms for testing, inspection and flexible manufacturing. These efforts aim to solidify E-Town's status as a global leader in humanoid robotics development.
The April half-marathon will feature robots from leading companies, research institutions and universities worldwide.
