Humanoid robots have outpaced the fastest human competitors by setting a new record in a half-marathon held in Beijing on April 19. The event underscored the rapid progress in robotic speed and autonomy, coinciding with China’s expanding efforts to mass-produce humanoid robots for real-world applications.
The winning robot, developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, completed the 13-mile (21-kilometer) course in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, autonomously navigating the route, according to the Global Times. This time surpassed the human world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds, which was set by Ugandan long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo at the Lisbon Half Marathon.
Robot Design Inspired by Human Athletes
The winning robot’s design drew inspiration from elite human runners, featuring long legs measuring approximately 37 inches (95 centimeters) in length, explained Du Xiaodi, a test development engineer for Honor. Xiaodi, speaking as part of the winning team to The Associated Press and other media outlets, highlighted the robot’s custom liquid-cooling system. Derived from cooling technology used in consumer electronics, this system could potentially be adapted for industrial applications.
The demonstration of robotic speed and autonomy comes as China’s tech industry accelerates its mass production of humanoid robots, exploring their potential uses in various real-world scenarios.
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