The most read Vietnamese newspaper
Edition: International | Vietnamese
© Copyright 1997 VnExpress.net. All rights reserved.
The winning robot, named "Tiangong Ultra," completed the course on Saturday in 2 hours and 40 minutes, qualifying within the human benchmark of 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Others, however, struggled with technical issues ranging from battery failure and overheating to structural malfunctions, including detached heads and limbs, according to tech site Interesting Engineering.
Many robots required constant human assistance, such as battery replacements and water sprays to stay cool. Several also wore children's sneakers and had missing parts to reduce weight.
Among the most problematic runners was "Huanhuan," which moved at a snail’s pace and shook uncontrollably. Another, "Shennong," spun in circles, hit a wall, and pulled down its human handlers. "Xuanfeng Xiaozi" fell apart during the race and had to be held together with duct tape.
Footage of multiple humanoid robot failures during Beijing’s April 19 half-marathon was posted on X and reported by Shanghai Daily
Although the event demonstrated how far bipedal robot development has come, it also revealed ongoing issues such as limited stability, poor heat dissipation, short battery life, and heavy dependence on human intervention.
Alan Fern, a robotics professor, told WIRED prior to the race that while the artificial intelligence powering these machines has not improved significantly since 2021, the hardware has progressed.
"Until five years ago or so, we didn’t really know how to get robots to walk reliably. And now we do, and this will be a good demonstration of that," he said.
He added that completing a half-marathon presents a major hardware durability challenge. "I’ll be surprised if one of these companies makes it through without replacing the robot."
