'Tiangong Ultra' robot claims victory in world's first humanoid half-marathon

Standing 1.8 meters tall and weighing 52 kilograms, Tiangong Ultra maintained a steady pace of 10 km/h, with occasional bursts up to 12 km/h, Interesting Engineering reported. Dressed in a bright orange tank top and black running shoes, the robot bore its name on its left shoulder.

Tang Jian, the center’s chief technology officer, credited the robot’s performance to its long legs and a specialized algorithm that mimics human marathon running patterns.

Spectators were excited to witness the milestone event. "The robots are running very well, very stable ... I feel I'm witnessing the evolution of robots and AI," said He Sishu, an artificial intelligence professional who attended the race.

While the event drew praise, some observers pointed out that the competition resembled a guided demonstration, as each robot was accompanied by a technical support and navigation team.

Although humanoid robots have previously appeared at marathon events in China, this marked the first time they officially competed alongside human runners.