Key points
- Six robot teams carried out initial road trials
- Robots to run alongside human competitors
- They will need to undergo several battery swaps
ISLAMABAD: The world’s first half marathon to feature humanoid robots is scheduled to take place on 13 April in “E-town,” the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, located in the southern part of the city.
In a ground-breaking move, humanoid robots and human runners will set off simultaneously along the same 21.0975-kilometer course, though designated lanes for the robots will ensure everyone’s safety, according to CGTN.
Ahead of the event, six registered robot teams—accounting for roughly a quarter of the total participants—carried out their initial road trials on 28 March, according to China Media Group (CMG).
The robots will run alongside human competitors, separated by barriers or green spaces to maintain safe distances. Seven support stations will be positioned along the route to help throughout the race.
Battery swaps
Each robot will need to undergo several battery swaps in order to complete the full course. Much like Formula 1 pit stops, dedicated support crews for each team will handle these battery changes quickly and efficiently.
“The support stations primarily assist the teams by offering battery replacements, safety gear, and other essential tools,” explained Wang Guolin, deputy head of the robot competition division.
During the preliminary trial, one humanoid robot managed to finish the course in roughly 2 hours and 52 minutes.
Endurance challenges
Organisers pointed out that many of the robots were not originally built for running or endurance challenges.
Typically, humanoid robots are tested in controlled indoor settings, so this marathon provides a rare opportunity to assess them in real-world conditions. It offers a thorough evaluation of their adaptability, balance, and stamina under dynamic circumstances.
“This event allows us to assess the robots’ movement capabilities, stability, posture control, energy use, and algorithms,” Wang added. “We hope this collaboration will help advance the embodied robotics sector as a whole.”
