By Anjani Kumar, Contributing Journalist
In a global first, 21 humanoid robots raced alongside humans in Beijing’s Yizhuang Half-Marathon, though challenges like falls and battery swaps highlight the gap to practical applications.
On April 19, 2025, Beijing hosted the world’s first half-marathon featuring 21 humanoid robots racing alongside 12,000 human runners in the Yizhuang Economic-Technological Development Area, a hub for over 100 robotics firms. This landmark event, part of the Beijing E-Town Half-Marathon, underscored China’s ambition to lead in AI and humanoid robotics amid intensifying global competition, particularly with the United States. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, won the robot category in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, while the human men’s winner finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes.
The Yizhuang Half-Marathon
The 21-kilometer (13-mile) race saw robots from Chinese manufacturers like DroidUP, Noetix Robotics, and UBTech, ranging from 1.2 meters to 1.8 meters tall. Some robots, such as one with feminine features that could wink and smile, showcased aesthetic innovation, while others wore running shoes or boxing gloves. Beijing officials likened the event to a motor race, emphasizing the role of engineering teams who supported robots with navigation and battery swaps.
Tiangong Ultra, a 1.8-meter, 55-kilogram robot, secured first place, leveraging long legs and an algorithm mimicking human running gaits. Its team, backed by state-owned enterprises (43% stake), Xiaomi, and UBTech, swapped batteries three times during the race. Only six of the 21 robots completed the course, with others facing setbacks like overheating or falling—one robot collapsed at the starting line, and another crashed into a railing, toppling its handler.
Spectator He Sishu, an AI professional, remarked, “The robots are running very well, very stable … I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI”. The event, livestreamed by CCTV and viewed by millions on Chinese social platforms, was both a technological showcase and a media spectacle.
China’s Robotics Ambitions
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has identified humanoid robotics as a “new frontier” for economic growth, targeting mass production by 2025. With a shrinking workforce and rising youth unemployment, China sees robots as a solution for labor shortages, particularly in elder care and manufacturing. The Yizhuang district, home to a 10 billion yuan ($1.36 billion) robotics fund, aims to industrialize high-end humanoid products. Posts on X celebrated the event, with users noting China’s lead in the “robot race,” though some robots’ struggles drew humorous commentary.
Global Context: Robotics in Sports and Beyond
Globally, robotics in sports is gaining traction. In South Korea, the quadruped robot RAIBO2 completed a full marathon in November 2024, finishing in just over four hours, though its non-bipedal design disqualified it from Beijing’s race. In the U.S., Boston Dynamics’ Atlas robot has demonstrated agility in obstacle courses, but no Western firm has yet staged a humanoid marathon. Japan’s SoftBank Robotics showcased its Pepper robot in a 2024 Tokyo tech expo, focusing on human-robot interaction rather than physical endurance. Alan Fern, a robotics professor at Oregon State University, noted that while China’s marathon highlighted hardware endurance, the software for such tasks was developed over five years ago, suggesting the event was more demonstrative than groundbreaking.
Events like the RoboCup, an international robotics competition held annually in countries like Germany and Australia, focus on soccer and rescue tasks, testing AI decision-making rather than endurance. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Optimus robot, unveiled in 2024, is designed for industrial tasks, with Elon Musk predicting humanoids could outnumber humans by 2040. These global efforts highlight diverse applications, from sports to industry, but China’s marathon stands out for its public scale and state-backed ambition.
Challenges and Future Prospects
The Yizhuang race exposed limitations in humanoid robotics. Overheating, falls, and the need for human handlers underscored the gap between demonstration and practical utility. Researcher ZongZe Wu from Tsinghua University called the completion of the course a “remarkable feat,” but noted that robots lack the versatility for widespread commercial use. Tang Jian, CTO of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, emphasized future industrial applications, such as factory automation and household assistance.
China’s government is investing heavily in robotics R&D, with subsidies in cities like Shenzhen and pilot programs in elder care. The global humanoid robot market is projected to reach $6.34 billion in 2025, with Chinese firms expected to sell 7,300 units. The Yizhuang marathon’s success has spurred plans for an all-robot sports event in Beijing later in 2025, featuring track, football, and skill-based challenges.
The Yizhuang Half-Marathon marked a historic fusion of technology and sport, showcasing China’s advancements in humanoid robotics. While Tiangong Ultra’s victory highlighted progress, the robots’ struggles revealed ongoing challenges. As China and global competitors like the U.S. and Japan push robotics forward, such events signal a future where humanoids play dynamic roles in society.
How Bharat can close the gap with China: To close the gap with China in AI and humanoid robotics, India must increase R&D investment from 0.7% to at least 2% of GDP, aligning with China’s 2.6%. Strengthen STEM education and expand AI training programs like FutureSkills Prime to build a skilled workforce. Promote local manufacturing through “Make in India” to reduce reliance on imported components. Foster public-private partnerships and incentivize startups like Invento Robotics via tax breaks and incubators. Establish a national AI and robotics policy to drive innovation, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing applications.
The Yizhuang Half-Marathon marked a historic fusion of technology and sport, showcasing China’s advancements in humanoid robotics. While Tiangong Ultra’s victory highlighted progress, the robots’ struggles revealed ongoing challenges. As China and global competitors like the U.S. and Japan push robotics forward, such events signal a future where humanoids play dynamic roles in society.
References
[1] Reuters, “China pits humanoid robots against humans in half-marathon,” April 19, 2025
[2] The Guardian, “China pits humanoid robots against humans in half-marathon for first time,” April 19, 2025
[3] CNN, “Chinese robots ran against humans in the world’s first humanoid half-marathon,” April 19, 2025
[4] South China Morning Post, “China’s humanoid robot half marathon winner wants to be ‘Android’ of robotics,” April 19, 2025
[5] WIRED, “Stumbling and Overheating, Most Humanoid Robots Fail to Finish Half-Marathon in Beijing,” April 20, 2025
[6] TechTimes, “China Announces First-Ever Marathon Race Between Humans and Robots,” January 28, 2025
[7] ZMEScience, “China’s Humanoid Robots Stumble, Break Down, and Finish the World’s First Robot Half Marathon,” April 21, 2025
[8] Posts on X, April 19–21, 2025
