Who Are These Chinese Robots Racing Against Humans?
Noetix’s robot runner crosses the finish line in the humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing on April.
On April 19, Beijing hosted the world’s first half marathon for humanoid robots. Even before the race began, crowds had gathered at the starting line and lined the route, eager to catch a glimpse of these new contenders. A month earlier, social media had already been buzzing with clips of robots in training, with users speculating on which machine would take the crown.
According to official race details, 21 teams from tech companies and universities across China participated. The robots came in all shapes and sizes—the tallest measured 180 cm, the shortest just 75 cm. The heaviest entrant stood 172 cm tall and weighed in at 88 kg, carrying up to 20 kg in arm load capacity alone.
“little giant”, the shortest robot runner in the event, is developed by Beijing Polytechnic University.
Each robot brought a unique strength to the track. Xing Zhe II, developed by Shanghai-based DroidUp, was the first legged robot to walk over 100 kilometers, with a battery life exceeding six hours. Noetix Robotics’ “Xiao Wantong” boasted a human-like gait and could adapt fluidly to uneven terrain with efficient energy recovery. Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, led the pack with a top speed of 12 km/h and advanced vision-based mobility, enabling it to handle complex terrain with ease.
Although 12,000 human runners also took part, it was the robots that stole the spotlight. Spectators, media crews, and even fellow racers were busy filming the machines. As some Chinese netizens joked, a few runners may have signed up not to compete, but to get a front-row seat for the robotic spectacle.
At 7:30 a.m., the race kicked off. Human runners departed from the right lane, while 22 robots and their operators set off from the left, in staggered one-minute intervals.
So why put robots through a half marathon? For most companies, it was a rare opportunity to test their machines in the real world. Laboratory conditions can’t replicate the unpredictability of outdoor terrain. A grueling 21-kilometer course exposes flaws in joint structure, energy efficiency, heat dissipation, and motion algorithms—all crucial benchmarks for commercial viability.
Behind the scenes, China’s robotics companies spared no effort in getting ready. Some had only a few weeks to prepare after receiving invitations in late February. For a human runner, four weeks is tight. For a humanoid robot, it’s a scramble. Teams worked around the clock to fine-tune algorithms, reinforce hardware, and boost battery life—all while making sure their robots could hold up under public scrutiny.
For many of the companies, this was the first time their robots had appeared in a public event. Any failure would play out in front of potential clients—and direct competitors.
MagicLab, a humanoid robotics firm, got its invitation at the end of February. Though initially hesitant, VP and head of R&D Chen Chunyu said the team eventually signed on, driven by confidence in their product and their knowledge of the competition. “The industry is small,” Chen explained. “We all know what each other is working on.” Fortunately, MagicLab was already developing a running algorithm, and the race offered a timely real-world trial.
A video demonstrated MagicLab’s latest humanoid robot.
Beijing-based Noetix Robotics had even less time. On March 14, it released a video showing its N2 robot performing consecutive backflips—the first robot in the world to do so. Only after the video went live did the team pivot to marathon preparation.
For a company barely 18 months old, that backflip video was crucial. It brought major visibility and showcased real-world capabilities. Following its release, the team quickly established a group to focus on marathon preparation.
Founder and CTO Jiang Zheyuan said the race provided a unique push to improve testing and product stability. “We don’t want customers saying our robots break all the time.” Despite its startup status, Noetix Robotics has already commercialized its machines.
Each company had a different strategy for choosing its entrant.
Noetix went with its high-profile N2 robot. As a mass-produced model, N2 was already well-honed athletically. At 110 cm tall and weighing just 20 kg, it had a clear advantage in agility. “Think about how a flea jumps—it takes no effort,” said algorithm engineer Huang Huaxing. “Smaller robots are just more dynamic.”
The NOETIX N2 is capable of performing near-perfect continuous backflips.
That nimbleness likely contributed to N2’s commercial success. Priced at about $5,500, it received between 600 and 700 orders within a month of launch, mainly from universities and research institutes focused on motion control. With its childlike stature, some shopping malls even purchased N2 to serve as mannequins for kids’ apparel.
MagicLab, on the other hand, entered “Xiaomai,” a 174 cm-tall humanoid with 96 cm-long legs. While its stride was naturally advantageous, Chen noted that smaller robots tend to perform better in races. “They’re lighter, and their joint torque is more proportional to their frame,” he said. At 67.5 kg, Xiaomai burned through more energy and took greater impact while running at 2 meters per second.
Still, MagicLab chose not to enter its smaller prototype. They wanted to test a full-size model’s durability under real conditions. And Chen wasn’t particularly worried about wear and tear. Last year, Xiaomai successfully completed a stress test with 40 kg of weight plates strapped to its chest and back, walking in a crouched position, proving its joints could withstand race-level impact.
Nevertheless, long-distance running takes a toll on robots’ parts. Over 21 kilometers, robotic joints face wear comparable to meniscus or ligament damage in human athletes. To minimize risk, MagicLab brought four backup units so they could swap in mid-race.
Noetix took a hands-on approach to fortifying N2 before race day. They reinforced its ankles, thickened gearboxes, expanded bearing contact areas, and reprogrammed its landing mechanics to reduce impact stress.
But ankle durability was only part of the equation. The soles, where robot meets road, were also a major concern. At the company’s offices, engineers could often be seen wrapping N2’s feet in anti-slip tape. But over 21 kilometers, the tape wore down fast. The team eventually switched to thick EVA foam soles, gluing them directly onto N2’s feet. Not only did they offer better shock absorption—they actually made the robot run faster than when “barefoot.”
Engineer is wrapping N2’s feet in anti-slip tape.
Terrain training was also critical. Noetix ran daily outdoor sessions in front of its headquarters. N2 trained for seven hours a day, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with a two-hour lunch break. Sometimes Jiang and his engineers followed behind in a car, filming like a wedding videographer. “Running the whole way is exhausting,” he said. “It tests the humans more than the robot.” At other times, engineers took turns running in shifts.
The sight of a 1.8-meter engineer jogging behind a 1.1-meter robot was both surreal and hilarious. Curious passersby often stopped to film the spectacle—some even waved and called out, “Come here!”
Battery life was another critical hurdle. Official rules allowed teams to change batteries or swap robots, but each substitution came with a 10-minute penalty. Every team crafted its own plan to cut down on downtime.
Noetix even developed a prototype system to charge N2 on the move, aiming to eliminate the need for mid-race power swaps. Although battery changes typically took only 2–3 minutes, rebooting and recalibrating took longer.
This race wasn’t just a tech trial—it was a high-stakes public debut. And companies knew it.
Beyond gold, silver, and bronze medals, organizers introduced bonus categories like Most Enduring, Most Popular, Best Gait, and Best Creative Design.
Noetix Robotics entered two robots: one focused on speed, the other on lifelike movement. “At this stage, showcasing matters,” said Jiang.
By late March, participants began arriving in Beijing for on-site training.
The race was as much a test of the humans behind the machines as the robots themselves. “If a robot breaks, you can swap it,” said Chen Chunyu. “But people? Not so easy.” That’s why MagicLab focused on safety over speed. “With both robots and humans on the course, we might need to slow Xiaomai down to give the operator room to adapt in real time.”
And if Xiaomai stumbled or underperformed? Chen wasn’t worried. “It won’t hurt our reputation. In fact, showing the final production model means we’re not afraid of a challenge.” Given this was China’s first-ever humanoid robot race, he believed the public would be forgiving.
The race didn’t disappoint—and the drama started early. One Unitree robot tripped at the start but pulled off a slick kip-up and waved to the crowd before continuing. Not so lucky was “Huahuan,” the only bot with a humanoid face. Less than three minutes in, it broke a leg and was forced to withdraw. MagicLab also had to drop out last-minute due to scheduling conflicts.
“Huahuan,” the only robot with a humanoid face in this event.
Outside the front-runners like Tiangong Ultra, Xiao Wantong, and Xuanfeng Xiaozi—most robots weren’t chasing podiums. Some ambled along at a relaxed pace. Others, like BoosterTI, broke into a dance routine at a crowded intersection. “If you can’t win, entertain,” seemed to be the motto. Even the tiniest robot, “Little Giant,” waved its tiny arms as it passed cheering fans.
By the time the tenth robot hit the 3 km mark, the human marathon champion had already crossed the finish line.
But for the robotics community, this was never about beating humans—it was about showing up.
Noetix dropped the foam soles and went with size-29 running shoes fitted with stabilizing pins. Tsinghua University’s Kuafu robot wore joint protectors. Support crews regularly sprayed coolant and checked for overheating. And everyone was on standby for rapid battery swaps.
While most handlers ran alongside their robots, Xiao Wantong’s operator cruised comfortably in the referee’s car.
As the crowd surged at the finish line, Jiang Zheyuan stood above them all—literally—wearing a headband that read “Victory” and gazing toward the final stretch.
At 10:10 a.m., Tiangong Ultra crossed first in 2 hours and 40 minutes with only one battery swap. An hour later, Noetix’s Xiao Wantong crossed second, followed by “Xuanfeng Xiaozi” at 11:18 a.m.
Tiangong Ultra crosses the finish line.
The two bots met at the finish line and delivered an encore—running in sync, side by side. Jiang told reporters, “It’s an amazing feeling—two out of the top three are ours.” Then he smiled and added, “I was born in 1998 and graduated from Tsinghua University.” Asked to share the secret to his team’s success, he kept it simple: “Hard work. Persistence.”
Editor: Li Jingyi
