China Showcases Humanoid Robotic Runners in Beijing Half-Marathon
Twenty-one humanoid robots joined human runners at the Yizhuang Half-Marathon in Beijing on Saturday, marking the first time in China that robots have competed alongside people in a race.
The robots, ranging in height from four to six feet, were developed by Chinese manufacturers including DroidVP and Noetix Robotics. They came in a variety of designs and were accompanied by human trainers throughout the race.
“The robots are running very well, very stable … I feel I’m witnessing the evolution of robots and AI,” said one spectator, He Sishu, who works in artificial intelligence, according to a report by Reuters.
Some companies spent weeks preparing their robots, and Chinese officials compared the competition to a race car event, requiring engineering and navigation teams. Some robots were even spotted wearing running shoes.
The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, came from the Beijing Innovation Center of Human Robotics and completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, a time well behind the men’s human winner, who finished in 1 hour and 2 minutes.
Tang Jian, chief technology officer at the robotics center, credited the robot’s performance to its long legs and an algorithm designed to imitate human running. The robot required three battery swaps to finish the course.
“I don’t want to boast but I think no other robotics firms in the West have matched Tiangong’s sporting achievements,” Tang said.
He added, “A focus going forward for us will be industrial applications for humanoid robots so they can truly enter factories, business scenarios, and finally households.”
China continues aggressively seeking investments in its robotics sector, as the industry has yet to have a clear global leader.
“Chinese companies have really focused on showing off walking, running, dancing, and other feats of agility,” explained Alan Fern, professor of computer science, artificial intelligence and robotics at Oregon State University. “Generally, these are interesting demonstrations, but they don’t demonstrate much regarding the utility of useful work or any type of basic intelligence.”
