China is going to organize an unprecedented sports competition in the history of the world. The world's first human-robot marathon is going to be held in Beijing's Dashing District in April this year. Several humanoid robots will compete with 12,000 human runners in this half-marathon (21 km). Prizes will be awarded to the top three runners in the competition and it is shaping up to be an unforgettable moment at the intersection of technology and sports.
The administrative authorities of Beijing's Economic-Technological Development Area (E-Town) said more than 20 companies have developed robots for the marathon. The only condition for participation in the competition, they added, is that the robots must be humanoid and have a bipedal mechanical structure that can perform tasks such as walking or running. However, wheels cannot be used to move robots.
In addition, robots must be between 1.5m and 2m (1.6ft to 6.5ft) tall and have a maximum length of at least 45m from the waist joint to the sole of the foot.
Remote-controlled and fully autonomous humanoid robots can participate in the competition. Operators will have the freedom to change the robot's battery mid-race.
According to the Chinese media The Daily CPEC, the humanoid robot named 'Tiangong', which can run at an average speed of 10 kilometers per hour, will participate in this marathon. The robot was developed by China's Embedded Artificial Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center.
Tiangong participated in Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing last year. In this marathon, the robot ran to the start and finish line alongside human competitors. However, this April's event will mark the first time that humanoid robots will run the entire marathon.
The initiative comes at a time when China is facing demographic challenges. The country's aging population continues to grow and the labor force shrinks. For this, China has increased its investment in the automation and robotics sector.
China's Communist Party sees humanoid robots as an important element in building self-reliance in robotic technology and accelerating economic growth. In particular, they believe it will help keep them ahead of competition with the United States.
According to the International Federation of Robotics, in 2023, China's various industries, institutions or organizations are using 276,288 robots, which is 51 percent of the world's total robots. Beijing plans to host another sporting event in August. The event will see humanoid robots competing in track and field, other sports like football and skill-based challenges.
References: NDTV
