The first race between humans and robots

Humanoid robots, developed by many companies around the world, will run on the streets with 12,000 human runners. Robots will run the entire race for the first time this year. The top three runners will receive prizes. This unprecedented race shows China’s ambition to become a leading country in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, Interesting Engineering reported on January 20.

According to the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Zone, companies, research institutes, robotics clubs and universities around the world will participate in the race with their humanoid robots. An important requirement is that the robots must have a human-like appearance. Furthermore, they must be equipped with a mechanical structure that allows them to perform movements such as walking or running on two legs, without moving on wheels.

The height of the humanoid robot should be between 0.5 – 2 m. Both remote-controlled and fully autonomous humanoid robots can participate in the race. They are also allowed to change batteries while running.

Besides China, many other countries are also actively developing robots. Last year, the 4-legged robot RAIBO2 of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) conquered a full marathon (42,195 km) in Korea. Notably, it completes the long journey in just over 4 hours on a single battery charge, representing a major step forward in the robot’s endurance. This achievement helps RAIBO become the first four-legged robot in the world to complete a full marathon.

Bringing robots into marathons is becoming a trend. For example, the humanoid robot Tiangong participated in the Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing last year. However, it only joined the human runners near the finish line, acting as a final “pacer” to encourage them.

China sees humanoid robots as a strategic element for its economic development and technological independence. Furthermore, robots are expected to help solve China’s pressing challenges such as an aging population and a shrinking workforce. Last year, humanoid robots were operating in a factory of electric vehicle manufacturer BYD.

China is also increasingly using robots to serve the elderly. This includes deploying robots as caregivers, providing emotional support, health monitoring, and smart home assistance.