Honor's humanoid robot became the first robot to complete the 21-kilometer race in 50 minutes at a half marathon held in Beijing, China.
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A humanoid robot has outpaced professional runners in a half marathon held in the Chinese capital Beijing on Sunday. The robot completed the 21-kilometer race in about 50 minutes and 26 seconds, according to international media outlets including Reuters and the BBC. This time is about 7 minutes faster than the world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds set by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo in the half marathon.
The robot that won the race was developed by Chinese smartphone brand Honor. The robot, named 'Jingze Number One', used artificial intelligence (AI)-based navigation, human-like legs and a cooling system. More than 100 robot teams participated in the competition this year. Last year, about 20 teams ran the half marathon. This time, more than 40 of the participating robots completed the race independently without taking instructions from anyone, while the rest of the robots were operated by humans via remote control.
Not all of the participating robots were able to run steadily. Videos of some losing their balance and falling in the middle, and some needing human help to get back up and run, are now circulating on social media. The winning robot successfully completed the race.
Not only in the race, such robots are also being tested in China in industrial inspection, warehouse operation, public services and entertainment. China is promoting humanoid robots as its important strategic industry. In 2025, more than 80 percent of the humanoid robots that came into use around the world will be used in China.
According to Reuters, this year alone, about 16,000 units of humanoid robots were used worldwide. Chinese companies like Agibot, Unitry Robotics, and Ubitech Robotics are aggressively expanding their production. Agibot alone shipped more than 5,100 units last year, accounting for about a third of the global market. Market analysts predict that the humanoid robot industry will be worth billions of dollars in the coming decade as the market for AI and other automated technologies continues to expand.
