China is preparing for a historic event in April, when it will host the world’s first marathon with human and robot runners. The upcoming half marathon in Beijing’s Daxing District will see 12,000 human athletes compete alongside humanoid robots in a thrilling 21km race. According to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), prizes will be given to the top three winners, regardless of whether they are humans or robots.
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Humanoid robot prepares for challenge
The marathon, sponsored by the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone (E-Town) government, will feature robots developed by more than 20 companies. Robots must meet certain criteria, such as a humanoid shape with the ability to walk or run on two legs without the use of wheels.
According to official guidelines, the height of the robot must be between 0.5 meters and 2 meters, and the minimum distance from the hip joint to the sole of the foot must be 0.45 meters. Both remote-controlled and fully autonomous robots will be eligible to participate in the competition, and operators will be allowed to change batteries during the race if necessary.
Amamiya participates in a historic race
One of the most anticipated participants is Tiangong, a humanoid robot developed by China’s Bodily Artificial Intelligence Robot Innovation Center. Tiangong can run at an average speed of 10km/h and made headlines last year when he ran alongside human competitors at Beijing’s Yizhuang Half Marathon. However, the upcoming race will be the first time that humanoid robots will compete in a marathon from start to finish.
Robots are key to China’s future
The introduction of humanoid robots at sporting events is part of a larger effort by China to address demographic challenges. With an aging population and a shrinking workforce, China has invested heavily in automation and robotics to maintain economic growth. Humanoid robots are seen as essential to achieving independence and strengthening the country’s competitiveness, especially in the face of competition from the United States.
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According to the International Federation of Robotics, as of 2023, China will account for 51% of the total number of robots installed in the world, with 276,288 robots deployed. The country is also planning an event in August where humanoid robots will compete in track and field, soccer and other skill-based challenges.
