# Robot wins Peking Half-marathon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** ai\ **Created:** [April 19, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392 "2026-04-19T12:30:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/1 "2026-04-19T12:30:14Z")
faster than any human in 50 min for 21km … - 10 min faster than the fastest human … What is significant: last year the fastest robot took 2hours 40 min (160min) for the same race (need to dump the “—” in the YT link) … it is the red robot from HONOR, the phone/tablet company. [https://www.you---tube.com/watch?v=JIBPBDVmprs](https://www.you---tube.com/watch?v=JIBPBDVmprs) . > **[Robot runners beat humans in Beijing half-marathon](https://www.dw.com/en/robot-runners-beat-humans-in-beijing-half-marathon/a-76846520)** > > For the first time, humanoid robots have outclassed humans in a half-marathon held in Beijing. The winner beat the men's record for the distance set by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo in March. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/2 "2026-04-19T12:41:58Z")
I ran across this clip, literally, 5 minutes ago. I just assumed it was either a joke or some old clip. I didn’t realize it not only just happened, but it was a whole robot marathon. When I went back to find the clip, I found other robot runners as well. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eCqTlUqbGZo/maxresdefault.jpg "Robot faceplants during humanoid marathon prep") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCqTlUqbGZo) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/3 "2026-04-19T12:45:25Z")
Next up: self driving Formula1 grand prix ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/4 "2026-04-19T12:45:26Z")
To add, the clip I watched didn’t have the text or additional audio, so I really didn’t know what I was looking for. If you search youtube for ‘humanoid robot half marathon’ there’s a ton of other clips as well. Most of them not involving the robots faceplanting. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0w6m2rhD5OM/maxresdefault.jpg "Humanoid robots race Beijing E-Town half-marathon") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w6m2rhD5OM) ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/5 "2026-04-19T13:53:50Z")
yep, some show some really organic movements … (organic in this context means “efficient”, as there are less start-stop losses) a few thoughts: - 160min down to 50 min in one year - that is a hugely **significant improvement** - another interesting KPI would be “avg. time of those that finished” and “% of robots finishing” - anybody remember the first Boston defense (?) clumsy robots … and now they sommersault - **This is the “first chess computer won against the grandmaster human” moment** - **while some are def. “corporate efforts”, there seems to be a lot going on at university level in China**. - That was a hugely, expensive and extremely organized event (you noticed the EV-busses driving behind every robot for the first few miles) - I am afraid we are all witnessing (with some “noisy-ups-and-downs”) that China is not just catching up with the western world but are taking the lead … similar to EVs / Battery tech and other forward-looking industries … - but, yeah … let’s push coal mining and steel manufacturing jobs in 'merica and defund universities and think-tanks … that will frog-leap us ahead again. **I think this is really one of those HISTORIC moments in time (that we often have difficulties in ID’ing as such)** ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/6 "2026-04-19T14:06:52Z")
> [@Al128](#): > > This is the “first chess computer won against the grandmaster human” moment TBH, I don’t see the value in bipedal robots. Count me as one of the “we don’t need human-like robots, we need automation” naysayers. We don’t need a human-like robot to do the laundry for us by loading our clothes into a bucket, stirring, and pushing against a washboard, for example. We already have laundry machines for that. If you want to increase automation to get clothes into the laundry machine, fine, but I don’t see why it needs to be a bipedal robot over any of a number of other conceivable options. Likewise, while there could be some use scenarios where a bipedal robot might be the best option, in general I would think something with wheels, treads, or propellers (flying) would be more than sufficient and possibly better than a bipedal machine. And even in use scenarios where wheels, tracks, or propellers would be sub-optimal (perhaps over rugged terrain at either high altitude or with varying winds), I don’t see why two legs would necessarily be better than four or more (and in fact I think at least 4 would be preferred in such situations). Humans are bipedal because we evolved from a species that was already bipedal. How that species or its ancestors found itself where bipedalism was a better option than walking on all fours is a matter of some debate. But by the time it got to us, we didn’t really have a choice because our bodies were already adapted to walking upright and generally unsuitable for prolonged walking on all fours. All that to say, bipedalism did not end up a human trait because it is necessarily the best trait for an intelligent species (or device) to have. It might just have been coincidence. By extension, there is no reason to assume that bipedalism should be selected for in our machines. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/7 "2026-04-19T14:14:54Z")
I have similar thoughts around bipedal robots after seeing them run. I’m like, why? But I think at this stage it’s about proof of concept - it’s not that they should do it, it’s that they _can_. Clearly, wheels are more efficient than two legs, but I think the ideas now are to show what’s possible today, and get people thinking about what’s possible tomorrow. Now, what was the date Skynet becomes self-aware? ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/8 "2026-04-19T14:16:14Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Now, what was the date Skynet becomes self-aware? I think it was… _Terminator 3_ that settled on the idea of a rolling judgment day? That is, it sometimes shifts based on our actions. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/9 "2026-04-19T14:17:55Z")
I agree, we humans look like we do, b/c of 1000s of generations of evolution … … which prepares us well for tasks relevant from 200.000 years BC to 1900 years after BC … I venture a guess (and might start a new thread on that) … that we as a species would look different had we evolved 1000s of gens doing what we do now … so the body-shape we are showing, works perfectly for roaming the woodlands and steppes and farm and do whatnot (all activities that are “obsolete” in our daily efforts. So in a way, having bi-pedals robots its the “ **we are re-fighting the last war-fallacy** ” My guess - what robotics bring to the table, is “body-evolution-cycles” of weeks-to-months. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/10 "2026-04-19T14:46:38Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > If you want to increase automation to get clothes into the laundry machine, fine, but I don’t see why it needs to be a bipedal robot over any of a number of other conceivable options. Isn’t the idea that you’d also want it to field a number of other existing tasks? So you’d want a robot assistant that can load clothes into a laundry machine like you would, _and_ that’d fit into the driver’s seat of a car — with hands that reach the steering wheel, and feet that reach the pedals — _and_ that’d be able to bring groceries in from that car, and put them on a high shelf like a grown man could, after walking up a staircase like a grown man could; if doorknobs and stovetops and half a hundred other things are currently positioned for the convenience of a bipedal person of regular height, you maybe just build a jack-of-all-trades design around that, right? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/11 "2026-04-19T14:49:44Z")
Laundry machine? Is this what washers and dryers are called someplace I’ve never been. Maybe if I spent more time watching travel shows on my TV box… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/12 "2026-04-19T14:53:39Z")
@Al128, I realize that English may not be your first language, so you may not be aware that the English transliteration of the name of the capital of the People’s Republic of China has been Beijing for decades. Peking is an older version of the name. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/13 "2026-04-19T15:31:09Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > Count me as one of the “we don’t need human-like robots, we need automation” naysayers. Didn’t we have this “C3PO vs. R2D2” debate several decades ago? ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/14 "2026-04-19T16:29:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > [Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/al128), I realize that English may not be your first language, so you may not be aware that the English transliteration of the name of the capital of the People’s Republic of China has been Beijing for decades. Peking is an older version of the name. I do know that, but I speak 3 languages on a mostly daily base (none perfect 😉 )… and there are certain names that are **spelled differently in all 3 languages** … - Beijing (as you mentioned) - Selenski (UKR president) - basically all mayjore cities in UKR (that make it into the news-cycle - Hezbola (terror org) - couple of cities in india (Mumbai?) , as well … come to mind … Honestly, I no longer have the mental energy **and** interest to keep tabs on that - and my lingustic ducks in a row … or as I tend to say … _sometimes good … is good enough_ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/15 "2026-04-19T18:02:04Z")
The reason to build bipedal two-handed 5-fingered _general purpose_ robots is because our built world and our machinery is already constructed for that form factor. Just like all the various accomoodations for wheelchair users end up making things worse for everyone else, designing robots to a different shape/size standard then starting to design the rest of our built world to be compatible with their different shapes _and_ our shapes is a step in the wrong direction. For us humans that is. It is fully morally correct that we fully accommodate _humans_ of different shapes, sizes, and mobility levels. Even if that necessarily produces some minor inconveniences for everyone else to avoid major inconvenience or outright unusability for the handicapped. But retrofitting the world for small diameter wheels is dumb _once we have the tech to construct, control, & power bipedalism._ Which we clearly do, or almost do. There are plenty of scenarios, such as factory assembly work, where robots of utterly different form factors or mobility are desirable. Great. Use those other shapes and sizes there. But for a machine intended to operate immediately amongst humans interacting with humans and using tools & machines designed for human use? Built those robots human-shaped with roughly human-equivalent physical mobility. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/16 "2026-04-19T18:54:59Z")
A machine can do something faster than a human?!? OMG, who would have believed it? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/17 "2026-04-19T19:01:56Z")
I’m sick of this shit. Drug test the winning robot(s). /s ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/18 "2026-04-19T19:03:53Z")
It was doped with…electrons! And bits and bytes! ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/19 "2026-04-19T20:00:13Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > We don’t need a human-like robot to do the laundry for us by loading our clothes into a bucket, stirring, and pushing against a washboard, for example. > [@sunacres](#): > > Didn’t we have this “C3PO vs. R2D2” debate several decades ago? > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Isn’t the idea that you’d also want it to field a number of other existing tasks? So you’d want a robot assistant that can load clothes into a laundry machine like you would, _and_ that’d fit into the driver’s seat of a car — with hands that reach the steering wheel, and feet that reach the pedals — _and_ that’d be able to bring groceries in from that car, and put them on a high shelf like a grown man could, after walking up a staircase like a grown man could; if doorknobs and stovetops and half a hundred other things are currently positioned for the convenience of a bipedal person of regular height, you maybe just build a jack-of-all-trades design around that, right? That was Asimov’s assertion. > [@snowthx](#): > > Now, what was the date Skynet becomes self-aware? It keeps changing due to the Time War… ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2026, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392/20 "2026-04-19T20:28:03Z")
Was that robot fully autonomous, or being remote controlled? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/robot-wins-peking-half-marathon/1029392.md?page=2)