News update
  • Janaza of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers held at Dhaka Cantonment     |     
  • Bangladesh stock market loses Tk 10,500cr in a week     |     
  • Dhaka’s air turns ‘very unhealthy’ on Sunday morning     |     
  • Project to transform N’ganj into a climate-resilient green city     |     
  • Sustainable, rights-based solutions to Rohingya crisis urged     |     

No sweat: Humanoid robots run Chinese half-marathon with men

Technology 2025-04-20, 10:15am

humanoid-robots-ran-alongside-actual-humans-in-a-half-marathon-in-the-chinese-capital-on-saturday-19-april-2025-00added006509d427c105e62250dacf91745122538.jpg

Humanoid robots ran alongside actual humans in a half-marathon in the Chinese capital on Saturday 19 April 2025._11zon



BEIJING, Apr 20 (AP/UNB) — In one small step for robot-kind — thousands of them, really — humanoid robots ran alongside actual humans in a half-marathon in the Chinese capital on Saturday.

The bipedal robots of various makes and sizes navigated the 21.1-kilometer (13.1-mile) course supported by teams of human navigators, operators, and engineers, in what event organizers say was a first. As a precaution, a divider separated the parallel courses used by the robots and people.

While flesh-and-blood participants followed conventional rules, the 20 teams fielding machines in the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon competed under tailored guidelines, which included battery swap pit stops.

The Sky Project Ultra robot, also known as Tien Kung Ultra, from the Tien Kung Team, claimed victory among the nonhumans, crossing the finish line in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds.

Awards were also given out for best endurance, best gait design and most innovative form.