Racing Into the Future

Runners don’t typically spend more time looking at their competitors than at the road ahead. But this race, in Beijing, China, was far from ordinary. The runners were racing against humanoid robots in the first half-marathon of its kind.

Designed to look and move like people, humanoid robots are powered by artificial intelligence. Companies around the world are developing these advanced machines to do a variety of tasks, from building cars to caring for the elderly. The industry could be worth $38 billion by 2035, according to financial firm Goldman Sachs.

The 13.1-mile race this past April was China’s chance to show off its progress and test robot skills including navigation and endurance. Twenty-one robots joined 12,000 runners on the course, separated by a divider.

A variety of robots took part, all on two legs. The shortest, at 2.5 feet tall, sported a track suit. Another had lifelike skin.

The high-tech runners could have their batteries replaced or be guided by remote control. But even with the help, the machines weren’t a match for their human competitors. Some robots collapsed right after starting. One with propellers spun out of control. And only six crossed the finish line.

Winning robot Tiangong Ultra (top of page) took a stumble and needed three battery changes. It finished in 2 hours and 40 minutes. The fastest human runner clocked in at 1 hour and 2 minutes—showing that the robots still have some catching up to do.

—Lisa M. Herrington