The marathon has become a standard sports event in every city across the country, primarily promoting sports and tourism in a city. From small counties to major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, multiple cities host marathons daily.
Some say marathons are like square dancing for the middle-aged and elderly across the country. However, with the 2025 Spring Festival Gala, the Hangzhou Yushu Technology Robot made its debut on stage, marking the blossoming of the robotics industry nationwide. Robots bring great convenience to humans; for instance, when tourists climb Mount Tai, robots can carry their luggage and even serve as mounts. In hotels, robots can deliver meals and items.
However, the participation of robots in marathons may be the first time in human history. On April 19, 2025, a marathon that completely subverts traditional sports competitions kicked off in Beijing Yizhuang, featuring the world’s first humanoid robot half marathon.
This event featured a robot course of 21.0975 kilometers for the half marathon, with 20 representative robot companies (teams) from across the country participating. Among them were the N2 from Songyan Power representing the Little Rascal team, and the 1.8-meter tall Tian Gong robot Ultra, Yushu G1, Leju’s “Kua Fu”, and Little Giant. The main purpose of robots participating in this competition is to explore a significant milestone in the future journey of human-robot coexistence.
On April 19, 2025, at 7:30 AM, the Beijing Yizhuang Marathon commenced, with robots and 2000 marathon runners from various places participating in this special event. This event was particularly noteworthy as it was the first time robots participated in such a competition, leading to many humorous moments and questions.
The author summarizes some highlights and issues from this robot marathon.
1. The Huan Huan robot from the Steel Treasure team was the only “female” robot in the event and stopped working shortly after the start.
Professionals responded: Technological innovation is not always smooth; it’s a bit regrettable, but we look forward to the next battle!
2. The N2 robot is not very tall, only 1.2 meters, and is referred to as the “little friend.” To address its short legs, engineers made some improvements through algorithm and hardware optimization to enhance its stride frequency and stability. This robot has a maximum running speed of 3 meters/second (10.8 km/h), but considering long-distance endurance, it will not run at maximum speed, planning to maintain a speed of no less than 2 meters/second.
3. Multiple videos circulating online show the Yushu Technology G1 humanoid robot falling during the race but then getting up and continuing the competition. This demonstrates the strong practicality of Yushu Technology robots. This sparked heated discussions among netizens, and Yushu Technology responded that the company did not send any robots to participate in this marathon.
As for the Yushu Technology robots participating, it may have been users who chose to participate. If these robots participated in the competition and encountered issues, it might be due to the users’ lack of operational skills. Netizens remain skeptical of Yushu Technology’s response, questioning why they did not send robots to this competition.
4. Some people specifically followed the robots throughout the marathon, stating that there were no personal bests (PB) in this marathon, and the significance of participating was to see the robots.
From the netizens’ perspective, the robots did not finish independently; they were accompanied by people. The robots had a guard on each side, both sweating profusely, and there were two maintenance vehicles following behind, indicating that the spectacle outweighed practicality.
5. However, the most popular robot among the audience was a robot dressed in white, accompanied by someone, resembling an adult taking a small child out shopping. This robot, known as the “eye-catching bag,” was the smallest participant at only 75 centimeters tall, and its adorable appearance won the audience’s cheers.
7. Some people saw these adorable robots running, each with different forms, always bringing laughter. One robot walked unsteadily, with someone assisting it, leading netizens to joke that it was a “grandma robot,” making everyone laugh.
8. The first participation of robots in the competition faced numerous issues, such as a head falling off while continuing to run, and some running out of battery mid-race. When a robot ran out of battery, it required staff to replace the battery and tighten various maintenance screws. The focus of humanoid robots running marathons is not on winning or losing, but on testing and demonstration. Just like AlphaGo challenging human chess players, the process is more important than the result; technological advancement is the core!
After this marathon, the results were announced:
1. Champion: Tian Gong Robot.
2. Runner-up: Little Rascal Robot.
3. Third place: Whirlwind Kid Robot.
The Tian Gong Robot won the championship of this half marathon, with contestant number 60901 “Tian Gong” finishing the 21.0975 kilometers in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.
The Tian Gong Robot won the championship of this half marathon, with contestant number 60901 “Tian Gong” finishing the 21.0975 kilometers in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds.
After the race, Tian Gong Robot CEO Xiong Youjun stated in an interview with media such as Yicai that, “This is a milestone achievement, and I am very happy.” He mentioned that today only showcased a small part of the Tian Gong Robot’s athletic capabilities, and more innovative technologies and application scenarios will be seen in the future.
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Netizens’ opinions:
1. The athletic performance of the Tian Gong Robot is impressive, relying on high-precision sensors and intelligent algorithms to walk steadily on complex terrains. If this technology were applied to wheelchairs, it would greatly facilitate travel for disabled individuals.
2. The Whirlwind Kid N2 robot completed the entire course with minor injuries and was a bit “limpy” after the race. Engineers explained that the robot experienced wear and tear due to prolonged movement, causing joint damage, leading to fatigue. Therefore, some manufacturers have set up a cooling mode for the robot’s joints to combat wear and heat.
3. It was quite entertaining; first, it increased the spectacle, and second, it promoted the flourishing development of domestic robotics.
The Beijing Yizhuang Marathon breaks the historical precedent of machines participating in competitions, with the main goal not being to win or lose, but to promote human technological advancement. In the future, robots will become a common part of people’s daily lives.
What do you think about the Beijing Yizhuang Marathon? Feel free to leave comments and discuss. Follow me for daily shares of different travel experiences.#World’s First Humanoid Robot Half Marathon Starts#