Beijing recently hosted what is being hailed as the world’s first half-marathon for robots, where bipedal bots competed alongside human runners, resulting in some comical moments. The robots, which were operated by humans, struggled to navigate the course and many did not complete the full 13 miles within the four-hour time limit. Some even experienced mishaps such as falling at the starting line, losing their heads, or collapsing into pieces. While they may not have won any medals, the videos of their attempts were certainly entertaining.
According to Bloomberg, a total of 21 robots participated in the race, with only four managing to finish within the allotted time. The winner, X Humanoid’s Tiangong Ultra, stood at five-foot-ten and took two hours and 40 minutes to complete the course, more than double the time of the winning human runners.
Teams were permitted to change batteries during the race, with Tiangong Ultra reportedly needing three battery swaps to finish. They were also allowed to switch out their robots for substitutes, although this incurred time penalties. In addition to Tiangong Ultra, other robot runners included Noetix Robotics’ N2, a Gundam-inspired robot, a «female-looking» bot named Huan Huan, and the 30-inch-tall Little Giant robot created by local college students. Many of the robots were even sporting human running shoes.
The original article from Engadget can be found at the link provided. The event showcased the capabilities and limitations of robot runners in a unique and entertaining way.
FUENTE
