Humanoid robots race humans in half-marathon test event in Beijing

A half-marathon in Beijing featuring both human runners and humanoid robots turned into a large-scale trial of emerging robotics technology, as developers tested performance under real-world conditions.

More than 300 robots took part in the 21-kilometre race held in the Yizhuang district, running on separate tracks alongside thousands of human participants. Organisers described the event as a live testing platform for navigation systems, endurance, speed and computing efficiency.

Nearly 40 per cent of the machines completed the course autonomously, a notable improvement from last year’s debut race, when most failed to finish.

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This year’s competition saw a major leap in performance. The fastest robot, developed by Chinese tech company Honor, completed the race in just over 50 minutes, surpassing all human competitors and even beating the current human half-marathon record. Honor’s robots also secured second and third place, highlighting rapid progress in the country’s robotics sector.

Engineers credited advances such as liquid cooling systems, adapted from smartphone technology, for boosting efficiency and stability. Experts say events like this are accelerating the path toward mass production, with real-world testing helping to lower costs and expand potential industrial applications.