China's capital, Beijing, is set to host a humanoid robot half marathon on April 19, 2025.
According to organizers, the competition will adopt a comprehensive timing system to determine final rankings. Specifically, the total time taken from start to finish, plus any penalties for rule violations, will be used to calculate each team's final score. This means that even if a robot crosses the finish line first, it may not take the top spot if penalties or other factors affect its final time.
Naturally, the humanoid robot half marathon has a time limit—after all, some robots might move a bit too slowly, which would be less exciting. The official cutoff time for this event is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Since robots need batteries to run, teams are allowed to swap batteries during the race or even complete the course in a relay format using multiple robots. However, each robot switch will incur a 10-minute time penalty, which is also factored into the final score.
The race offers prizes for the top three finishers, with the first-place winner receiving 5,000 RMB, second place 4,000 RMB, and third place 3,000 RMB.
There are plenty of highlights in this event. The half marathon is a major test of a robot’s energy system, demanding efficient power management and long-lasting battery life. Completing a half marathon requires highly advanced AI capabilities, including path planning, obstacle avoidance, gait control, and speed regulation—a formidable challenge for all participants.
As for the final results, which robots will rise to the top? Let's wait and see!
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