Humanoid robots have outpaced human runners in a landmark half-marathon in Beijing, underscoring rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The autonomous robot Shandian was declared the official winner after completing the 21-kilometer race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Another robot, Lightning, recorded a faster time of 48 minutes and 19 seconds but was excluded from the top prize due to its use of remote control under the event’s scoring rules.
Both times surpassed the human half-marathon record set by Jacob Kiplimo, highlighting the growing performance capabilities of advanced robotics.
The event featured thousands of human participants alongside robots developed by more than 100 companies and research institutions. Separate tracks were used, and the course included varied terrain such as slopes, curves, and narrow sections to test performance.
Not all robots completed the race successfully, with several experiencing technical failures during the event.
Organizers said around 40 percent of the robots operated fully autonomously, while others relied on remote control.
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