The 21-kilometer (13-mile) race was held in E-Town, a government-backed center for advanced manufacturing located in the Chinese capital.
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The purpose of the event was to assess the performance of bipedal robots in real-world scenarios. While human participants lined one side of the road, many captured footage of the robots as they made their way to the finish line. Some robots operated autonomously, while others were controlled remotely by engineers.
Engineers who spoke with AFP emphasized that the focus was not on speed but rather on evaluating the robots’ performance, stability, and reliability.
“The primary goal of this event is to prepare for future industrial applications. We anticipate that when these robots are deployed in factories, businesses, or everyday environments, they will need to operate continuously, 24/7, without any failures. Our marathon serves as an extreme test of their reliability and stability. I believe that next time, you will see even greater improvements,” one engineer shared with AFP.
The event showcased approximately 20 teams from various regions in China. The participating robots varied in height from 75 to 180 centimeters (2.46 to 5.9 feet) and could weigh as much as 88 kilograms (194 pounds).
