Comparing Humanoid Robot Half-Marathons and Traditional Half-Marathons: Technical Performance and Impact

Daily Technology

26/12/2025

Event Structure and Format

In April 2026, Beijing E-Town is set to host its second humanoid robot half-marathon, which will run concurrently with the human half-marathon event. Both robots and human athletes will compete across identical 21.0975-kilometer routes, though their tracks will be separated by guardrails or median strips for safety and integrity. This approach allows for a direct comparison between traditional human races and their robotic counterparts within a controlled environment.

Technical Performance and Evaluation

The humanoid robot competition includes two primary categories: an autonomous navigation group and a remote control group. Autonomous robots rely solely on onboard sensing, perception, and decision-making algorithms to complete the course. In contrast, remote-controlled robots leverage human operators for navigation. Standardized public awards will assess robots in multiple dimensions—beyond speed, metrics include energy efficiency (with the "best endurance award"), naturalness of movement (the "most beautiful gait award"), bionic design features, and adaptability to real-world environments.

Performance Indicators and Test Standards

In the 2025 marathon, winning robots demonstrated notable technical milestones. For example, Tiangong Ultra competed the half-marathon in two hours, forty minutes, and forty-two seconds. Performance criteria were based on run times, stability of joints, effectiveness of battery swapping, and resilience across long distances. These criteria align with public benchmarks set by human races but are tailored to highlight robotics-specific challenges, such as continuous autonomous operation and energy management under real-world conditions.

Technical Impact and Industry Applications

Key innovations accelerated by these events include joint stability mechanisms and rapid battery exchange systems. Lessons identified during the races contribute directly to industrial robotics, promoting advances in autonomous mobility, perception systems, and embodied AI. The 2026 event will further emphasize robots’ ability to perform service roles—such as cheerleading, route guidance, and trash collection—reflecting their transition from competition entities to service partners.

International Collaboration and Industry Development

Crucially, the Beijing E-Town event is designed to encourage participation from global robotics teams. This international collaboration aims to close technical gaps identified in the races and translate competitive insights into practical industrial solutions. The event structure and awards create an environment where robotic and human athletic achievements can be measured on parallel terms, fostering objective technology benchmarking and cross-disciplinary learning.

In summary, the humanoid robot half-marathon serves as a rigorous, standardized testbed for evaluating and advancing robotics performance, positioning these competitions alongside traditional human events in both structure and impact.

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