Humanoid Robot Sets Half-Marathon Record in Beijing, Surpassing Human Best

A humanoid robot developed by the Chinese smartphone maker Honor finished a half-marathon in Beijing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This time surpassed the human world record. The robot operated autonomously, navigating the 13.1-mile course without direct human control. The event took place in Beijing's Economic-Technological Development Area, known as E-Town.

More than 100 humanoid robots from 76 institutions across China participated in the race. They ran on separate tracks from about 12,000 human runners to avoid accidents. Around 40% of the robots operated autonomously, using artificial intelligence to adjust pace, maintain balance, and adapt to terrain.

The robots incorporated features like long legs measuring 90 to 95 centimeters, advanced balance systems, and liquid cooling mechanisms to prevent overheating. These designs drew inspiration from elite human runners and smartphone technology. In 2025, the fastest robot finished in two hours and 40 minutes, with most unable to complete the course.

This year, several robots outperformed professional human athletes. Incidents occurred during the race, including some robots falling, veering off paths, or requiring technical assistance. One robot fell at the starting line, and another collided with a barrier.

Despite these issues, the overall performance indicated advancements in robot joints, motors, endurance, and autonomous navigation.

The race highlighted China's efforts to demonstrate leadership in humanoid robotics. Spectators noted the robots' superior speed in controlled conditions, though challenges remain in real-world applications like dexterous manipulation and adapting to new environments.

A spectator who attended last year's event observed enormous changes, stating that robots surpassing humans was unimaginable before. Another spectator remarked that the robots' speed far exceeded humans, potentially signaling a new era.