In a remarkable event earlier this month, humanoid robots participated in a half-marathon alongside approximately 12,000 human competitors in southern Beijing. The standout performer was a robot named “Lightning,” developed by the smartphone manufacturer Honor, which completed the 13.1-mile race in an impressive time of 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This achievement is noteworthy as it surpasses the current world record for a human half-marathon, set at 57 minutes and 20 seconds.
Another robot from Honor, controlled remotely, finished even quicker at 48 minutes and 19 seconds but did not compete autonomously. Despite its faster time, the remote-controlled robot encountered a mishap just before the finish line, tumbling into advertising boards and requiring assistance from human handlers. The incident added a humorous twist to the event, contrasting the high-speed performance of the robots with the unexpected crash.
In the human category, Zhao Haijie of China was the first to cross the finish line, clocking in at 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 47 seconds, significantly trailing behind the robot competitors. The event highlighted advancements in technology and performance in athletics.