Robots Charge into a Half-Marathon, One Step at a Time

Humanoid Robots Vs. Human Runners: A Half-Marathon Showdown

Picture this: a bustling Beijing street‑side, thousands of eager runners stretching the distance to half‑marathon glory, and dozens of robots—each marching to the beat of their own mechanical heart—ready to take on the same mile. This past Saturday, the city’s E‑Town tech hub held what it claimed was the world’s first humanoid half‑marathon.

Meet the Robotics Contenders

• Tiangong Ultra — The shiny prizewinner from X‑Humanoid, clocking in at 2 hours 40 minutes. Trust me, that time would cause most odd jobs and office runners to throw up their hands and shout, “Google! Are you feeling okay?”
• Little Giant — At a height of just 30 inches, it paused mid‑laps, releasing a plume of smoke that looked far too dramatic for a shoe‑off‑the‑track moment.
• Shennong — It stumbled over its own shoes on the starting line, only to meet a fence later, which promptly shattered into a sad pile of screwed‑up metal.
• Other Competitors — Over half of the robots ran at a 3‑hour or longer pace, and only four more than four robots finished before the slip‑n‑slide cut‑off.

Into the Arena: The Rules and Reverse‑Engineering

Robots were required to flaunt a humanoid silhouette and run on two legs. They raced in a fenced lane, separate from their human counterparts, with staggered starts so these steel runners wouldn’t collide—unless you’re into comedy.

Batteries? Sure thing. Tiangong Ultra swapped out its power source three times. G1, from Unitree, took a tumble at the start line after a client used the robot without its usual algorithms—one can call that a “software detox.”

How Did the Robots Actually Run?

Most of the participants kicked off with a human sidekick bearing a signalling device on their back. Tiangong Ultra chose to mimic the runner’s stride, like a mechanical “follow‑me” game. Others, however, took the cue of a remote operator meant to guide them along the track, stepping in with a handheld joystick and more verbal prompting.

What This Means for the Future

• When a robot finishes a 21.0975‑kilometer run, it again reminds us that slow pace is the new word of the day.
• These humbly humorous mishaps underline that, for now, human runners still have the edge—at least in speed and spontaneity.
• Still, the event shows that robots are definitely becoming more than just static sculptures. They’re all set to keep learning the art of a good pace.

So, next time you hop on a race day, give a nod to the little gear‑humble heroes that got to take a shot—although they might still need a human friend to keep up their shoes.

Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.

Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.

San Francisco, Oct 27‑29, 2025

Spotlight on the robotics frontier: X‑Humanoid is bringing the big news to the Bay Area this week, and Tang Jiang, the company’s chief tech wizard, had something to say.

“No one’s got the muscle yet”

• Tang Jiang to Reuters: “I don’t want to brag, but I’m pretty sure no western robotics team has hit the same height as Tiangong’s stellar feats.”
• He’s all about pushing the limits, and the folks at X‑Humanoid are eager to prove it.
• Fun fact: Tiangong isn’t just a name—it’s the nickname for their flagship robot that can do gym moves you’d think only athletes could master.

Why you’ll want to be there

It’s not just tech talk—this weekend’s meetup blends demos, talks, and the usual San Fran vibe:

1. Live robot showcasing (yes, it literally lifts weights).
2. Interactive Q&A with Tang and the engineering crew.
3. Networking with startup founders and industry giants.

So gear up if you’re ready to witness robotics magic with a touch of swagger.