Beijing gears up for groundbreaking human-robot half-marathon

The world's first half-marathon featuring humanoid robots is set to begin at 7:30 am on Saturday in Beijing, with about 20 teams from across China ready to compete in a test of both technology and endurance.

The race, which includes human and humanoid robot runners, will begin in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, also known as Beijing E-Town. Research institutes, universities and companies from Beijing, Shanghai, provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu are among those fielding teams.

"This marks the first time humanoid robots will undergo a comprehensive test in an open-field setting, facing long distances and complex environments," said Liang Liang, deputy director of the E-Town management committee.