Robots Face Off Against Humans in Half-Marathon

Robots got off to a bad start in a road race against humans in China. One robot fell and another crashed into a barrier. Image by Editor.

The Race

Humans easily outran robots in a special half-marathon in Beijing.

The race took place in Yizhuang, a part of the Chinese capital. Thousands of human runners joined 21 humanoid robots in the world’s first 21-kilometer race that included robots.

But many robots struggled. One robot collapsed right after the race started and didn’t move for a while. Another crashed into a barrier just after starting and pulled its handler down too.

Robot Performance

Some robots did reach the finish line but were far behind the humans. The best robot, called Tiangong Ultra, finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes. That was more than an hour slower than the winning human runner.

Alan Fern, a robotics professor in the U.S., said these events are fun to watch, but they don’t show real intelligence or practical use.

Still, some people were impressed. A local AI engineer named He Sishu said, “The robots are running very well… I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI.”

Robot Design and Development

The robots weren’t truly running on their own. Each had a team of engineers, and some even needed help to stay upright.

Chinese tech companies like DroidVP and Noetix Robotics brought robots of many shapes and sizes. Some wore boxing gloves or headbands. Officials said the race was more like a motorsport event than a real marathon.

Tang Jian, who helps lead the Tiangong lab, said the next step is to make robots useful for real-life jobs. He said they want robots to work in factories, businesses, and homes.

Future of Robotics

There are no plans to replace professional soccer players with robots, except perhaps for post-match interviews in which robots could probably handle scripted lines pretty well.

Source: Al Jazeera and News Agencies.

Conclusion

The half-marathon race between humans and robots in Beijing was an interesting event that showcased the current state of robotics technology. While the robots struggled to keep up with the humans, the event highlighted the potential for future development and innovation in the field of robotics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the outcome of the half-marathon race between humans and robots?

A: Humans easily outran the robots, with the best robot finishing more than an hour behind the winning human runner.

Q: What was the purpose of the race?

A: The race was meant to showcase the current state of robotics technology and highlight the potential for future development and innovation in the field.

Q: Will robots replace human workers in the future?

A: According to Tang Jian, the next step is to make robots useful for real-life jobs, such as working in factories, businesses, and homes, but there are no plans to replace professional soccer players with robots.