Humanoid Robot Marathon in Beijing

Humanoid robots are set to take part in a half-marathon this April in Beijing, followed by a dedicated humanoid robot sports meet scheduled for August, according to a press briefing by the Beijing Municipal Government's information office on Tuesday.

The half-marathon, slated for April 13, will take place in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in southeast Beijing. Both human and robotic athletes will compete along the same route, though the robots will run on separate, secured tracks featuring barriers or green belts to ensure safety, explained Li Quan, deputy head of the area's administrative committee.

The competition has established a robot cutoff time of approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. During the race, teams are allowed to swap out batteries or replace robots in a relay-style format. The final results will consider both the completion time and the number of replacements, with a 10-minute penalty added for each substitution.

To participate, robots must have a humanoid design and be capable of bipedal walking or running, with wheeled robots not allowed. Control methods may include manual remote control, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous operation. Teams are required to ensure their robots do not harm the track, other robots, or surrounding people and must adhere to the designated route and competition rules.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers, with the champion, runner-up, and third-place winners receiving 5,000, 4,000, and 3,000 yuan (about 697, 558, and 418 U.S. dollars), respectively. Additional awards, such as the Completion Award, Best Endurance Award, and Most Creative Design Award, will also be presented, along with special recognition for development teams.

The competition is open to global robot companies, research institutions, robot clubs, and universities, highlighting the international appeal of the event.

China's robotics industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by significant capital investment. Robots are increasingly being utilized across diverse sectors, including industrial automation, healthcare, and service industries. According to a report released at the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, the market for humanoid robots in China reached approximately 2.76 billion yuan last year. The market is projected to expand to 75 billion yuan by 2029, potentially capturing 32.7 percent of the global market.