“That more than 20 robots companies participated show that Robot Tech in China is progressing rapidly,” said Guo Yijie, leader of the winning robot team, Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics.
As the initial siren resonated in the air, the first batch of robots ran forward, its metal legs hit strongly against the track. The highest robot was 5 feet 10 inches, while the shortest, nicknamed “Little Giant”, measured less than 2.5 feet and pulled cheers from the crowd while passing and greeted with enthusiasm.
Some robots ran gently as humans, while others had more rigid and mechanical movements. Each also had a unique style: some had realistic skin and hair, others wore clothes and some ran with shoes.
Companies that develop humanoid robots in China, the United States and other places expect that they can eventually do jobs ranging from manufacturing to care.
“Our vision is that humanoid robots are integrated into various industries and homes, serving humanity in significant ways,” said Wei Jiaxing, the brand and public relations lead in the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center. “They can improve productivity, improve efficiency and help address labor shortages.”
However, when it came to running, the robots were not rival for human contestants, who had time to stop and take selfies with them throughout the 13 -mile course in Yizhuang, a Hub Tech district in southeast of Beijing.
Some of the robots just started. One, designed with the body and face of a woman, collapsed moments after crossing the starting line. The sudden malfunction sent a group of engineers running by their side.
Another was beaten by a ruling before the race began and lying on the ground, finally emerged for spectators’ cheers.
In the middle of the race, some robots became too “tired” to continue on their own, and their human operators had to guide them with straps. Robots were allowed to exchange batteries or even be replaced by another machine.
Of the 21 robots, six reached the finish line. The winning robot, Tiangong Ultra, completed the race in 2 hours and 40 minutes, after three battery changes and a fall. That compares with 1 hour and 2 minutes for the human winner of the male race.
Li Qingdu, founder of the manufacturer with headquarters in Shanghai, Droidup, said he was not worried about the career classifications. His humanoid robot was in third place at 4 hours and 25 minutes.
