Humanoid robots set unprecedented records at the Beijing E‑Town Half Marathon, with one machine completing the 21.1-kilometre course in 50 minutes, 26 seconds, faster than the fastest human half‑marathon time ever recorded.
The event, organised in the Yizhuang district, featured dozens of humanoid robots racing in separate lanes alongside human participants. The winning robot, nicknamed Lightning and developed by Chinese tech company Honour, demonstrated advanced reasoning and autonomous navigation capabilities.
“Lightning’s performance is not just about speed-it’s about reasoning. The robot made real‑time decisions to avoid obstacles and optimise its pace. This is a milestone for AI in motion,” said an Honour spokesperson during the post‑race briefing.
Spectators expressed awe at the spectacle. One attendee told the Press: “Watching robots sprint past humans was surreal. It felt like witnessing the future unfold right in front of us.”
Not all machines succeeded. One robot collapsed at the start line, while another malfunctioned near the barriers, underscoring the risks of pushing robotics technology to its limits. Organisers emphasised safety by keeping robots and humans in separate lanes.
The achievement highlights China’s ambition to lead in humanoid robotics. Just a year ago, robots lagged far behind human runners; now, they have surpassed human athletic performance, setting a new benchmark for AI‑driven mobility.
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