China’s Robot Marathon Reveals the Unexpected Truth About Humanoid Tech

In a groundbreaking blend of sport and science, 21 humanoid robots lined up alongside thousands of human runners in Beijing for what organizers are calling the world’s first bipedal robot half-marathon.

Held on April 19, the 21.1-kilometer (13.1-mile) race featured two-legged robots navigating a dedicated track, separated from the approximately 12,000 human participants Newsweek reported. The spectacle served as a real-world test of endurance, balance, and design. Ultimately, the event highlighted how far robotics have come and how far they still need to go.

Only six robots finished the entire course. The winning bot, Tiangong Ultra, which is also known as Sky Project Ultra, crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds. Built by the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics, the machine barely met the human minimum qualifying time.

The event revealed as much about robot limitations as it did about progress. Some robots collapsed mid-race, one lost its head, and many staggered forward with wobbly, unsynchronized strides. One entry, nicknamed Xuanfeng Xiaozi, limped to the end with a cooling pad strapped to its chest and duct tape holding parts together.

Organizers implemented robot-friendly rules: pit stops for battery swaps, on-the-spot repairs, and human handlers trailing each robot to assist during malfunctions. To reduce weight, many machines ditched excess casing, added knee pads, or even wore sneakers.

While AI played a minor role, the focus was squarely on hardware, pushing the limits of bipedal locomotion. “Until five years ago, we didn’t really know how to get robots to walk reliably,” said Alan Fern, a robotics professor at Oregon State University. “Now we do, and this is a good demonstration of that.”

China’s increasing investment in humanoid robotics was underscored in December when startup AgiBot announced mass production of its general-purpose bots. Meanwhile, U.S.-based Tesla plans to release its own humanoid robot by 2026.

The Beijing race captivated public attention and raised important questions: Can robots match human mobility? And how long before they run among us?