Humanoid robots lined up alongside human runners in a half-marathon event in China, offering a striking visual of machines navigating a real-world course on two legs. The display highlighted the advancing physical capabilities of bipedal robots, with several models maintaining balance and stride over a 21-kilometre distance.

The event served as a public demonstration of how far robotic mobility has progressed, with the machines drawing attention for their ability to handle uneven terrain and sustain motion over an extended period. While some robots completed the course smoothly, others stumbled or required human assistance, adding an element of unpredictability to the spectacle.

Photo: Reuters/ Tingshu Wang

The half-marathon follows a high-profile appearance by humanoid robots earlier this year on China's most-watched television broadcast, the annual CCTV Spring Festival gala. That programme featured over a dozen Unitree humanoids performing a choreographed martial arts routine with swords, poles, and nunchucks in close proximity to child performers.

Despite the visual drama, experts noted that the skills on display during the half-marathon do not translate directly to commercial viability in industrial settings. Chinese robotics firms are still working to develop artificial intelligence software that would enable humanoids to match the efficiency of human factory workers. Manual dexterity, real-world perception, and the ability to perform varied tasks beyond small-scale repetitive motions remain significant hurdles.

China is currently pursuing a range of policies, from subsidies to infrastructure investment, as it seeks to position itself as a global leader in the humanoid robotics sector, according to a report by Reuters.

Photo: Reuters/ Maxim Shemetov