History was made in Beijing this weekend as Tiangong Ultra, a 180cm-tall humanoid robot, became the first to conquer a half-marathon designed for machines! 🏆 The bot completed the 21.1km course in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds, outpacing 19 rivals ranging from pint-sized ‘Little Giant’ to corporate and academic models.
Think robot marathons are easy? Think again! Competitors navigated sharp turns, speed bumps, and even potholes, with human trainers allowed to assist or swap batteries mid-race. 🔋⚡ ‘Every team delivered outstanding performances – just finishing this is heroic,’ said Tiangong team leader Xiong Youjun, celebrating this milestone in AI mobility.
📊 By the numbers: While Tiangong Ultra trailed the human men’s winner (who finished in 1:02), this event signals a giant leap for robotkind – and a sneak peek into our tech-driven future! 🌐✨
