The first half-marathon man-robot marathon is underway: it will be held in April in Beijing, China

Imagine an event in which humans and robots run side by side, testing resistance, coordination and technological advancement. This scene should become reality inApril 2025when a Beijing the First half marathon with “flesh and blood” athletes but also advanced humanoids. The Daxing district will host this unique competition of its kind, which will participate approximately 12,000 humansin addition to a Number not yet specified with robots from over 20 companies. The initiative reflects China’s growing attention towards the development of artificial intelligence and robotics. And speaking of the robotic participants, these will have to respect precise technical requirements, such as a height between 50 cm and 2 meters and the ability to move on two legs without the aid of wheels. Both remote controlled robots and completely autonomous models will be allowed. During the 21 km route Robots can clearly be replaced by the batteries.

The first man-robot competition: why in Beijing?

The competition is part of the wider picture of the Chinese strategy aimed at strengthening the sector of artificial intelligence and robotics, with the aim of achieving technological self -sufficiency and stimulating economic growth. That’s why it will take place in Beijing. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have encouraged the development of humanoids through conferences, competitions and targeted investments, aiming at Make China a global leader in the sector. This is also because the need for advanced robots is closely linked to the demography of the most populous second country in the world: in 2024, over 310 million Chinese citizens had exceeded 60 years, highlighting the urgency of technological solutions to support welfare and fill the deficiency of workforce.

The applications of humanoids are expanding rapidly, from factories to nursing homes, passing through the service sector. Some models are already employed as company aid, health monitoring and domestic assistance, while others are experienced in the manufacturing industry, as in the case of humanoids used in the factories of byd electric vehicles. According to the International Robotics Federation, in 2023 China has installed over 276,000 robots, equal to more than half of those used worldwide. By 2030, the Chinese robotic industry could reach a value of about 400 billion yuan (at the current change over 52 billion euros), consolidating the role of the country as a hub of technological innovation.

For the record, the first humanoid robot to have participated in a race of this type, albeit as a “motivator” and not as a actual marathon runner, was Tiangongwhich last November took part in the Yizhuang Half Marathon of Beijing.

The challenges of robotics

Despite the progress, the realization of sophisticated humanoids still represents one complex challenge. Also leading companies in the sector, such as Tesla with his Optimus project, are encountering difficulties in creating robots capable of carrying out complex tasks with the same efficiency as a human being. China, however, is strongly pushing to overcome these obstacles: several cities have already implemented strategies to accelerate the development of the sector, such as Hangzhouwhich has announced investments in research and production of humanoid robots, e Nanchinowhich has launched a three -year plan for the strengthening of high quality robotics.

The imminent Beijing Marathon will therefore represent an important test for companies engaged in this sector, which will be able to demonstrate the progress carried out so far and test the abilities of robots on the field.