Humanoid Robots Struggle to Complete Beijing Half Marathon, Highlighting Technological Challenges

On April 19, 2025, during a half marathon in Beijing with over 12,000 human participants, 21 humanoid robots also attempted to complete the course. Organized by several Beijing municipal agencies, this marked the first event of its kind where robots ran on a separate track alongside humans. Only six robots finished the race, with Tiangong Ultra, developed by UBTech and the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, emerging as the fastest. It completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes after multiple battery swaps and a fall, barely qualifying for a human participation award. Most robots faced severe issues like overheating, frequent falls, and needed human assistance throughout. Duct tape was widely used for emergency fixes, including reattaching robot heads. While the event drew public interest and national pride, it also exposed the limitations of current humanoid technology. Robotics expert Alan Fern highlighted that such events test hardware robustness rather than AI intelligence, and emphasized the need for future focus on practical, real-world applications. Robots varied in design, with many missing heads or fingers to reduce weight. Some even danced during the event, but performance inconsistencies made for both entertaining and sobering demonstrations of the state of humanoid robotics.