- Humanoid robots were present at a Chinese marathon
- They ran alongside human competitors in China in the first race of its kind
- The race was a half-marathon in Beijing
If AI doesn’t terrify you, this sure will. Yes, humanoid robots joined real competitors in a half-marathon on 19 April. Robots ran the marathon in Beijing in the first race of its kind.
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But don’t worry – the robots weren’t alone. The robots ran the marathon, which was 21.1 kilometers, with the assistance of human navigators, operators, and engineers. Officials enforced segregation, separating them from their human companions in safety processes.
Find out more about the race and the process.
What happened to the robots during the marathon?
The bots were guided and were competing in teams for the coveted first-place spot. Complete on the course were designated pit stops to help provide them with that robo refresh. Also, each one had its number and outfit, almost like a real-life doll.
There were around 20 teams with 18 different types of robo-athletes ready to try and snatch the title.
Who won?
The Sky Project Ultra Robot, also known as Tien Kung Ultra from the Tien Kung Team, claimed victory for the robo side. The bot finished the marathon in two hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds. China’s National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center developed Tien Kung.
Before turning its hand to marathon running, Tien Kung achieved another first by climbing 134 stairs to reach the summit of Haizi Wall Park in Beijing. How Tien Kung can do this is because it has vision-based walking abilities, which allow it to see stairs and navigate height differences, and the process of transitioning between steps.
Months before the marathon, Tieng Kung trained in a series of runs. At maximum speed, the robot can go 6 kilometres per hour. Talk about some endurance!
Not to worry, those who ran the entire circuit did not leave with only a low battery; some left with awards, too.
Judges handed out awards for best endurance, most innovative form, and best gait design.
In the race, there were approximately 12,000 humans. As for bots, probably too many to count!
Clearly, the race shows that our robo companions are ready to beat us at any race, hopefully, they don’t start acquiring Guinness World Records. If those robots that ran the marathon show you anything, it’s that technology is advancing at an alarming rate.
