Robots compete against people: half marathon in Beijing as a technology show?

robot compete in half marathon in China

In an impressive demonstration technological progress, humanoid robots recently took part in a half marathon in China's capital Beijing. The event that took place in the Yizhuang district was supported by 20 companies and research institutions that presented their advanced models. One of the conditions for participation was that the robots had to have two legs, which was a challenge for the engineers.

The route of 21,0975 kilometers was designed for both humans and for robots, but the two groups were separated from each other by barriers. Despite the technological innovations that embody these robots, many models showed difficulties while running. Some stopped at the start, while others were so slow that they were overtaken by their developers. More than 10,000 people had registered for the half marathon, which indicates great interest in this unique event.

experts not only looked for a possibilities for demonstrating robotics, but also a test of the practical skills of the humanoid machines. Prof. Maren Bennewitz from the University of Bonn said that such an event is crucial for the evaluation of the hardware and software of the robots, in particular with regard to the perception of the environment and the responsibility.

At the end of the half march, human victory was not surprising, since the fastest robot 'Tiangong' remained 40 minutes and 24 seconds far behind the human participants with a time of 2 hours. Daniel Rixen, professor of applied mechanics, described the event as a PR campaign for the demonstration of China's technological skills, comparable to Formula 1 in the automotive sector.

The half marathon not only reflects the developments in robotics, but also the rivalry between China and the USA in the technology sector. In view of the steadily growing markets and the increasing demand for robots, it is expected that the robot market will gain considerably in the coming years, which makes China's commitment more and more relevant in this area.