Latest news with #BeijingYizhuangHalfMarathon
Gulf Insider
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Gulf Insider
World's First Humanoid Robot Half Marathon Postponed Due To Windy Weather
World Sport Tech & Telecoms Beijing has postponed a half marathon originally scheduled for Sunday in which humanoid robots will race alongside human runners. The 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon was postponed to April 19 due to forecasts of very strong winds for this weekend, according to a statement published on Thursday by the event's organisers, Reuters reported. The race will be held in an area of Beijing that hosts more than 100 robotics companies and a 10 billion-yuan ($1.36 billion) government fund for their development, according to the deputy director of the area's management committee, Li Quan. Source Bahrain News Agency 31 minutes ago 47 minutes ago 11 hours ago
Dubai Eye
10-04-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
World's first humanoid robot half marathon postponed
Beijing has postponed a half marathon originally scheduled for Sunday in which humanoid robots will race alongside human runners, a milestone designed to showcase China's advances in a frontier industry the country is intent on dominating. The 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon was postponed to April 19 due to forecasts of very strong winds for this weekend, according to a statement published on Thursday by the event's organisers. While they did not say whether the conditions were more of a danger to robot or human runners, humanoid robots are likely to be more at risk of tipping over in windy weather due to the lack of training data for the scenario, according to experts. The race will be held in an area of Beijing that hosts more than 100 robotics companies and a 10 billion-yuan ($1.36 billion) government fund for their development, according to the deputy director of the area's management committee, Li Quan. "The marathon is not only a challenge of physical endurance for robots but also a test of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence by the development teams," Li said in a press conference last month. Rising wages and a slowing economy are making robots more attractive to Chinese companies aiming to limit labour costs and leverage technology to grow. And as China's adoption of AI rapidly increases following the success of startup DeepSeek, it has seen a surge of investment in humanoid robots and their industrial applications. While humanoid robots have appeared in previous editions of the Yizhuang Half Marathon, this year they are expected to run the entire course for the first time, with awards for those running the farthest without being subbed out or having their batteries replaced. The robots participating in the race must appear human-like, including in their running and walking motions, and must complete the half marathon within 3 hours and 30 minutes. Participating firms have begun testing their robot runners in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV. "Teams must ensure that the robots do not damage the track, other robots, or surrounding people," Li said. "In order to enhance the technological atmosphere of the event, the opening ceremony will be hosted by robots."
Khaleej Times
10-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
World's first humanoid robot half marathon postponed due to windy weather
Beijing has postponed a half marathon originally scheduled for Sunday in which humanoid robots will race alongside human runners, a milestone designed to showcase China's advances in a frontier industry the country is intent on dominating. The 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon was postponed to April 19 due to forecasts of very strong winds for this weekend, according to a statement published on Thursday by the event's organizers. While they did not say whether the conditions were more of a danger to robot or human runners, humanoid robots are likely to be more at risk of tipping over in windy weather due to the lack of training data for the scenario, according to experts. The race will be held in an area of Beijing that hosts more than 100 robotics companies and a 10 billion-yuan ($1.36 billion) government fund for their development, according to the deputy director of the area's management committee, Li Quan. "The marathon is not only a challenge of physical endurance for robots but also a test of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence by the development teams," Li said in a press conference last month. Rising wages and a slowing economy are making robots more attractive to Chinese companies aiming to limit labour costs and leverage technology to grow. And as China's adoption of AI rapidly increases following the success of startup DeepSeek, it has seen a surge of investment in humanoid robots and their industrial applications. While humanoid robots have appeared in previous editions of the Yizhuang Half Marathon, this year they are expected to run the entire course for the first time, with awards for those running the farthest without being subbed out or having their batteries replaced. The robots participating in the race must appear human-like, including in their running and walking motions, and must complete the half marathon within 3 hours and 30 minutes. Participating firms have begun testing their robot runners in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV. "Teams must ensure that the robots do not damage the track, other robots, or surrounding people," Li said.
Reuters
10-04-2025
- Science
- Reuters
World's first humanoid robot half marathon postponed due to windy weather
BEIJING, April 10 (Reuters) - Beijing has postponed a half marathon originally scheduled for Sunday in which humanoid robots will race alongside human runners, a milestone designed to showcase China's advances in a frontier industry the country is intent on dominating. The 2025 Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon was postponed to April 19 due to forecasts of very strong winds for this weekend, according to a statement published on Thursday by the event's organizers. While they did not say whether the conditions were more of a danger to robot or human runners, humanoid robots are likely to be more at risk of tipping over in windy weather due to the lack of training data for the scenario, according to experts. The race will be held in an area of Beijing that hosts more than 100 robotics companies and a 10 billion-yuan ($1.36 billion) government fund for their development, according to the deputy director of the area's management committee, Li Quan. "The marathon is not only a challenge of physical endurance for robots but also a test of breakthroughs in artificial intelligence by the development teams," Li said in a press conference last month. Rising wages and a slowing economy are making robots more attractive to Chinese companies aiming to limit labour costs and leverage technology to grow. And as China's adoption of AI rapidly increases following the success of startup DeepSeek, it has seen a surge of investment in humanoid robots and their industrial applications. While humanoid robots have appeared in previous editions of the Yizhuang Half Marathon, this year they are expected to run the entire course for the first time, with awards for those running the farthest without being subbed out or having their batteries replaced. The robots participating in the race must appear human-like, including in their running and walking motions, and must complete the half marathon within 3 hours and 30 minutes. Participating firms have begun testing their robot runners in Beijing, according to state broadcaster CCTV. "Teams must ensure that the robots do not damage the track, other robots, or surrounding people," Li said. "In order to enhance the technological atmosphere of the event, the opening ceremony will be hosted by robots."
Express Tribune
31-01-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Beijing to Host First Ever Half-Marathon Race Between Humanoid Robots and Humans
It seems robots are no longer content with just vacuuming our floors or assembling our cars—they're now literally on equal footing with humans. Well, bipedal footing, at least. In a groundbreaking event that sounds like it's straight out of a sci-fi movie, Beijing is set to host the first-ever long-distance running race between humanoid robots and humans this April. Get ready for a mix of huffing, puffing, and maybe even some mechanical creaking as these two-legged bots take on flesh-and-blood athletes in a 13-mile (approximately 21 kilometre) marathon. Organized by the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town), the race will feature more than 12,000 human runners alongside a lineup of humanoid robots from tech firms, research institutions, and robot clubs worldwide. But don't expect any shortcuts—robots must adhere to strict rules. They must have a humanoid appearance, walk or run on two legs (no wheels allowed!), and stand between 19.7 inches and 78.7 inches tall. Oh, and their hip-to-foot extension must be at least 17.7 inches. Because, you know, fairness. One of the confirmed participants is Tiangong, a bipedal humanoid that's already made headlines. Last year, Tiangong joined the Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon, completing a modest 100 meters. While it wasn't exactly breaking speed records, its ability to finish the course earned it a symbolic medal. By April, Tiangong is expected to reach speeds of up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) per hour—a significant improvement that highlights the rapid advancements in robotics, particularly in mimicking human-like movements. Here's how humans and robots stack up in the race: Category Humans Robots Speed Up to 13 mph (elite runners) Up to 6.2 mph (Tiangong) Endurance Can sustain long distances Improving but still limited Innovation Natural evolution Cutting-edge engineering Robots can be remote-controlled or fully autonomous, and teams are allowed to swap out batteries mid-race if needed. As for the humans, let's hope they're on their best behavior—no tripping the competition, no matter how tempting it might be to sabotage a bot threatening to leave them in the dust. This isn't the first time robots have hit the track in China. Last fall, Tiangong's appearance at the Yizhuang Half Marathon and quadruped robots serving as pacesetters at the Hangzhou Marathon showed that the idea of robots competing alongside humans is gaining traction. April's race is expected to draw significant attention as the world watches to see how far robotics has come. As advancements in humanoid robotics continue to accelerate, this event raises fascinating questions. Will robots one day surpass humans in physical endurance? Or will the unpredictability of human grit and determination keep us ahead? Either way, this race is more than just a competition—it's a glimpse into a future where humans and robots might coexist in ways we're only beginning to imagine. So, who's your money on: the humans or the humanoids?
