A robot made in China easily broke the world record for the half-marathon in the annual race in Beijing, while several other robots malfunctioned and fell near the finish line.
A humanoid robot from the Chinese manufacturer Honor.
This year's race quickly turned into a "high-tech comedy show" as a series of robots malfunctioned right on the track.
One robot broke down after only about 60 meters from the start, had to be taped back together, and then continued competing in a makeshift but determined state.
Another "mechanical athlete" brilliantly crossed the finish line but then unexpectedly... lost his bearings, crashing straight into a bush as if seeking... a place to rest.
The scene on the racetrack resembled an "emergency robot rescue." Technicians ran alongside, carrying stretchers and pushing wheelchairs, ready to "lift" the injured robots out of the race.
This year, dozens of robots participated alongside more than 12,000 human athletes, but the organizers cleverly arranged for the robots to run in their own lanes, perhaps to avoid the possibility of humans and machines colliding and both ending up dead.
Robots to participate in the 2026 Beijing Marathon
According to reports, about half of the robots can navigate autonomously using a navigation system, while the rest still require remote control. After the race, Xue Qingheng, the founder of a tech startup, admitted that the robots are not yet perfect.