China's humanoid robots complete half-marathon in Beijing — but still needed battery swaps and joystick operators
Apr 21, 2025
Key Points
- China's 21 humanoid robots completed a half-marathon in Beijing, but the fastest (Tien Kong Ultra at 2 hours 40 minutes) finished nearly 100 minutes behind the human champion, requiring battery swaps and joystick operators throughout.
- Only two of 21 robots met the original three-and-a-half-hour cutoff, forcing organizers to extend the deadline, exposing how far humanoids remain from autonomous endurance running.
- China targets humanoid robotics world leadership by 2027 through subsidies and tax breaks, with battery technology identified as the primary limiting factor rather than mechanical design challenges.
Summary
China ran 21 humanoid robot models through a half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday alongside thousands of human runners. The robots ranged from four feet to 5'9" in height. Tien Kong Ultra, a 5'9", 115-pound humanoid developed by UB Electronics, Xiaomi, and the Beijing government, finished first at 2 hours 40 minutes—nearly 100 minutes behind the human male champion.
The race exposed how far humanoids remain from autonomous bipedal endurance. Robots required three battery swaps mid-race despite rated runtimes of just two hours per charge. The faster a robot ran, the shorter the distance it could cover. Developers spent months training machines to maintain stability on flat and hilly roads, navigate six left turns and eight right turns, and avoid falling. One company connected its robot to a fitness machine during training to prevent falls. Tien Kong Ultra had its plastic components replaced with metal and stronger materials to survive the impact of running.
Only two of 21 robots met the original three-and-a-half-hour cutoff. Organizers extended the deadline to four hours and ten minutes to allow more finishers. Robots also required human operators with joysticks providing active control throughout, not autonomous navigation.
China's central government has targeted world leadership in humanoid robotics by 2027 and backed the ambition with subsidies, talent bonuses, and tax breaks. The race served as a public showcase of that commitment, with government officials and crowds awaiting the robots at the finish line.
Battery technology appears to be the limiting factor. A breakthrough enabling longer runtime and faster charging would shrink the engineering challenge of running at human-competitive speeds on varied terrain substantially—likely easier than the mechanical problem of shoe design itself. Within a few years, as battery density improves, robots competing in such events should outpace humans decisively.