BEIJING — Chinese technology reached a new milestone Sunday when a humanoid robot crossed the finish line of a robotic half-marathon in record-breaking time, showcasing the nation’s growing prowess in advanced robotics.
The mechanical athlete, developed by Honor smartphone company, covered the 21-kilometer course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, according to officials from Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, where the competition took place. The robot’s time eclipsed Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who holds the human record at approximately 57 minutes set in March.
This year’s robotic achievement represents a dramatic improvement from the previous year’s competition, when the fastest robot required 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds to complete the same distance.
The 2024 event attracted significantly more participants than its predecessor, with over 100 teams competing compared to last year’s smaller field. International participation also grew, with five overseas teams joining the competition.
Despite the technological advances, the race experienced some mechanical difficulties. One robot collapsed immediately at the starting line, while another collided with a course barrier during the event.
Officials reported that roughly 40% of the competing robots operated independently using autonomous navigation systems, while human operators remotely controlled the remaining machines. Adding to the technological showcase, a robotic traffic controller used arm movements and voice commands to guide participants along the route, according to state television CCTV.
The robotic competition reflects China’s broader technological ambitions as it seeks to compete with the United States in critical technology sectors with national security implications. Beijing’s current five-year economic plan emphasizes pushing “the frontiers of science and technology,” with accelerated humanoid robot development specifically outlined in the 2026-2030 strategy for the world’s second-largest economy.
Recent industry analysis from London-based research firm Omdia identified three Chinese manufacturers — AGIBOT, Unitree Robotics and UBTech Robotics Corp. — as the only top-tier suppliers in global shipments of general-purpose intelligent robots. All three companies delivered more than 1,000 robotic units in the previous year, with AGIBOT and Unitree Robotics each shipping over 5,000 units, according to the research report.
