On Saturday, the world’s first half-marathon for humanoid robots took place in Beijing. The event, blending technology and sports, attracted 20 participating teams from Chinese universities, enterprises, and research institutions, with some 12,000 human runners taking part in the race alongside the robots.
Maintaining a steady pace of seven to eight km/h, Tiangong Robot Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, won the race by completing the 21-kilometer course in two hours 40 minutes.
Why it matters: The race was intended to mark a coming-of-age moment for humanoid robots, pushing core technologies such as joint heat resistance and environmental perception in different conditions. However, some robots underperformed, raising questions about commercialization. Embodied AI nevertheless remains a promising long-term sector in China, despite cost, energy efficiency, and reliability hurdles.
Details: The robot course ran parallel to, but apart from, the human track. State-owned broadcaster CCTV livestreamed the race on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
- Teams could change batteries or pass the baton to backup robots, subject to a 10-minute time penalty. To test the robots’ adaptability and sustained stability, the course featured varied terrain, including flat ground, nine degree slopes, gravel, and grass.
- Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, jointly established by UBTECH, Xiaomi, and other partners, took first place. Standing 1.8 meters tall and weighing 55 kilograms, the model can reach a top speed of 12 km/h. Its lightweight build, integrated joints, and air-cooling system help manage joint overheating during long-distance runs, according to the company. With three battery swaps during the race, Tiangong Ultra completed the 21-kilometer course in two hours and 40 minutes.
- Unitree Robotics responded to controversy over the performance of its G1 robot in the half-marathon, clarifying that it did not participate in the race. Video footage featuring a G1 robot collapsing at the very beginning of the race was one of the event’s many viral clips online.
- “Some third-party teams operated the robot, which fell at the start due to mishandling. Our firm has not taken part in any recent robot competitions, as its current focus is on preparing a humanoid robot combat livestream project,” said Unitree Robotics. The company explained that such events require months of preparation, and due to the demands of ongoing R&D and commercialization, it did not organize an official team for the race.
Context: In January, Unitree Robotics gained significant attention after its humanoid robot H1 performed during the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. The robots showcased their agility and coordination in a dance segment, marking the first time many viewers saw Chinese robots perform mainstream.
