- Tien Kung Ultra Takes the Lead
Beijing (Agencies): In a remarkable fusion of technology and athleticism, the Chinese capital made history by hosting the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon on April 19, 2025. Held in the Yizhuang district of Beijing, the event saw 21 humanoid robots race alongside nearly 12,000 human participants, marking a major milestone in robotics and artificial intelligence.
The star of the event was Tien Kung Ultra, a humanoid robot developed by China’s National and Local Co-built Embodied AI Robotics Innovation Center. Standing 1.8 meters tall and weighing 55 kilograms, Tien Kung Ultra completed the 21.0975-kilometer course in 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 42 seconds — clinching first place among the robotic competitors.
The robots ran on a separate track with specially designed rules, including battery swap pit stops and the presence of support teams made up of engineers, operators, and navigators. Despite facing challenges such as overheating, stumbling, and technical glitches, six of the robotic entrants successfully crossed the finish line.
Organizers also presented awards for various categories including endurance, gait design, and innovation in form, reflecting the technological diversity among the competing robots.
Experts say the event highlights the rapid progress in humanoid robotics and AI, while also showcasing the current limitations of machine movement in real-world conditions. Developers behind Tien Kung Ultra envision the robot as a foundational platform for future smart machines — likening its potential to that of the Android operating system in mobile devices.
The event received global attention and is being hailed as a groundbreaking step toward human-robot collaboration. It underscores China’s ambition to lead in the global robotics race, blending innovation with spectacle in a way the world has never seen before.