The worlds very first humanoid robotic half-marathon was kept in Beijing on Saturday, with the humanoid robotic Tiangong Ultra claiming the champion by finishing the 21.0975-kilometer race in 2 hours, 40 minutes and 42 seconds.Though the guyss winner of the race had a time as short as 1 hour and 2 minutes, the device demonstrated extensive performance.
A team member of Tiangongs maker, the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, described the tech behind the win.
The bot accomplished its individual best today, said Wei Jiaxing, head of public relations of the center.
We improved the stability, heat resistance and shock resistance of its joints.
Also, we have actually been upgrading its movement control algorithm to adjust it to all type of roadway surfaces, Wei explained.With all the improvements, Tiangongs running speed has increased from the previous 6 kilometers per hour to as quick as 12 km/h.
In pictures: Humanoid robots go for it in half-marathonUnrivaled performanceTang Jian, chief innovation officer for the center, stated Tiangongs efficiency was aided by long legs and an algorithm enabling it to mimic how people run a marathon.
I do not wish to boast, but I think no other robotics firms in the West have actually matched Tiangongs sporting achievements, Tang stated, adding that the robot switched batteries just three times throughout the race.The center is 43 percent owned by two state-owned business, while tech huge Xiaomis robotics arm and leading Chinese humanoid robotic company UBTech have equal shares in the rest.Its worth keeping in mind that the name for the robotic champ Tiangong is not the same as that for the core module of the China Space Station.
Spelled the very same in Latin letters, the 2 names look different in Chinese characters: The robots name can be equated to celestial craft, while the space modules name suggests incredible palace.
A meaningful raceSome professionals have questioned whether its required for robotics to look and act like people, but others state the competition has its own significances.
This kind of gathering will draw in more attention to the industry, which will give us more space for creativity, Gai Keke, professor at the School of Cyberspace Science and Technology at the Beijing Institute of Technology, informed CGTN.
Meanwhile, by examining the competitors process, the market can find brand-new issues and technical concerns, Gai stated.
This is of excellent significance for accelerating the commercialization process.
Hugo Award-winning science fiction author Liu Cixin informed China Media Group that he believed the occasion would assist the public much better comprehend the abilities of humanoid robots.
I believe the robot marathon is more of a display.
The robots show their capability to relocate a steady, balanced way while running, Liu stated.
Robots that can help the senior or take care of clients have big market potential.
Home robots that can manage chores are likewise very beneficial.
Of course, robotics have not reached that level.
Once they do, the market will be huge, and the effect on daily life will be extensive, he included.(Zhao Chenchen and Gong Zhe added to the story.
Cover: The Tiangong humanoid robotic crosses the goal of the worlds first humanoid robotic half-marathon in Beijing, China, April 19, 2025.
Qu Bo/CGTN.)