{"id":56645,"date":"2026-04-20T05:52:17","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/?p=56645"},"modified":"2026-04-20T05:52:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T05:52:17","slug":"280366","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/2026\/04\/20\/280366\/","title":{"rendered":"Humanoid robots are now faster than the world&#8217;s best runners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_280370\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-280370\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-280370 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Humanoid-robots-are-now-faster-than-the-worlds-best-runners.jpg?resize=640%2C341&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Humanoid robots are now faster than the world's best runners\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Humanoid-robots-are-now-faster-than-the-worlds-best-runners.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-150x80.jpg 150w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-450x240.jpg 450w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-1200x640.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-280370\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Tiangong Ultra 2026 humanoid robot takes part in the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing, China. Tingshu Wang\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Dozens of Chinese-made<\/strong> humanoid robots showed off their fast-improving athleticism and autonomous navigation skills as they whizzed past human runners in a half-marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, highlighting the sector\u2019s rapid technical advances.<\/p>\n<p>The race\u2019s inaugural edition last year was riddled with mishaps, and most robots were unable to finish. Last year\u2019s champion robot recorded a time of 2 hours 40 minutes, more than double the time of the human winner of the conventional race.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s contrast was stark. Not only had the number of participating teams increased from 20 to more than 100, but several robot frontrunners were noticeably faster than professional athletes, beating the human winners by more than 10 minutes.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"modern-quote pull alignright\">Unlike last year, nearly half of the robot entrants navigated the tougher terrain autonomously<\/aside>\n<p>Unlike last year, nearly half of the robot entrants navigated the tougher terrain autonomously instead of being directed by remote control during the 21km race. The robots and 12\u00a0000 men and women ran in parallel tracks to avoid collisions.<\/p>\n<p>The winning robot, developed by Chinese smartphone brand Honor, finished the race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, several minutes faster than the half-marathon world record set by Ugandan runner Jacob Kiplimo in Lisbon last month.<\/p>\n<h2>World-record times<\/h2>\n<p>Teams from Honor, a Huawei spin-off, took the three podium spots, all self-navigated and posting world record-beating times. Du Xiaodi, an Honor engineer on the winning team, said its robot was in development for a year, fitted with legs 90-95cm long to mimic elite human runners as well as liquid cooling technology used in its smartphones.<\/p>\n<p>Du said the sector remained in a nascent phase, but he was confident humanoids would eventually reshape many industries, including manufacturing.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: right;\">Read: How Beijing\u2019s army of robot dogs and AI drones could redefine warfare<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cRunning faster may not seem meaningful at first, but it enables technology transfer, for example, into structural reliability and cooling, and eventually industrial applications,\u201d Du said.<\/p>\n<p>Spectators largely viewed the variety of humanoids of different sizes and gaits on display as evidence of China\u2019s improvements in robotics.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_280368\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-280368\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-280368\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776664334_517_Humanoid-robots-are-now-faster-than-the-worlds-best-runners.jpg?resize=640%2C341&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"An Honor Lightning humanoid robot runs towards the finish line. Maxim Shemetov\/Reuters\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776664334_517_Humanoid-robots-are-now-faster-than-the-worlds-best-runners.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-honor-robot-1500-800-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-honor-robot-1500-800-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-honor-robot-1500-800-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-honor-robot-1500-800-150x80.jpg 150w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-honor-robot-1500-800-450x240.jpg 450w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-honor-robot-1500-800-1200x640.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-280368\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Honor Lightning humanoid robot runs towards the finish line. Maxim Shemetov\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThe humanoid robots\u2019 running posture I saw was really quite impressive \u2026 considering that AI has only been developing for a short time, I\u2019m already very impressed that it can achieve this level of performance,\u201d said Chu Tianqi, a 23-year-old engineering student at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe future will definitely be an AI era. If people don\u2019t know how to use AI now, especially if some are still resistant to it, they will definitely become obsolete,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Another spectator, 11-year-old schoolboy Guo Yukun, said after watching the race that he was inspired to pursue a university degree in robotics in the future.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"modern-quote pull alignright\">Economically viable applications of humanoid robots are still mostly remain in a trial phase<\/aside>\n<p>Guo said he takes regular classes in robotics theory and programming at his elite Beijing school, and is part of his school\u2019s team for the International Olympiad in Informatics, a global programming competition for high schoolers.<\/p>\n<p>While economically viable applications of humanoid robots mostly remain in a trial phase, the half-marathon\u2019s showcasing of these machines\u2019 physical prowess highlights their potential to reshape everything from dangerous jobs to battlefield combat.<\/p>\n<p>However, Chinese robotics firms are still struggling to develop the AI software that would allow humanoids to match the efficiency of human factory workers.<\/p>\n<h2>Global powerhouse<\/h2>\n<p>Experts said the skills on display during the half marathon, while entertaining, do not translate to the widespread commercialisation of humanoid robots in industrial settings, where manual dexterity, real-world perception and capabilities beyond small-scale, repetitive tasks are crucial.<\/p>\n<p>China is seeking to become a global powerhouse in this frontier industry and has enacted a wide range of policies from subsidies to infrastructure projects to cultivate local firms.<\/p>\n<p>The country\u2019s most-watched TV show, the annual CCTV Spring Festival gala, in February showcased China\u2019s push to dominate humanoid robots and the future of manufacturing.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_280369\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-280369\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-280369\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776664336_496_Humanoid-robots-are-now-faster-than-the-worlds-best-runners.jpg?resize=640%2C341&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A Unitree H1 humanoid robot takes part in the race. Tingshu Wang\/Reuters\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" srcset=\"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776664336_496_Humanoid-robots-are-now-faster-than-the-worlds-best-runners.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-2-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-2-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-2-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-2-150x80.jpg 150w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-2-450x240.jpg 450w, https:\/\/techcentral.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/re-running-robot-1500-800-2-1200x640.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\"\/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-280369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Unitree H1 humanoid robot takes part in the race. Tingshu Wang\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That included a lengthy martial arts demonstration where over a dozen Unitree humanoids performed sophisticated fight sequences waving swords, poles and nunchucks in close proximity to human children performers.\u00a0 \u2014 <em>Eduardo Baptista and Laurie Chen, with Josh Arslan, (c) 2026 Reuters<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"mt24\">\n<div data-qa-component=\"story-content-collapsable\">\n<div class=\"mh-auto overflow-hidden mh-none--print\" data-qa-component=\"collapsable-content\">\n<div class=\"font-knowledge regular line-height-1-5 color-black f6 pt16 pb20 border-bottom border-gray-22 story-copy\" dir=\"auto\" data-qa-component=\"item-story\" data-rc-highlight=\"story\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><i>Get breaking news from TechCentral on WhatsApp.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><span class=\"s2\"><b><i>Sign up here<\/i><\/b><\/span><b><i>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\" async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- Africa tv video display -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1669381584671856\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"3579572842\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script data-jetpack-boost=\"ignore\">\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n#Humanoid #robots #faster #worlds #runners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Tiangong Ultra 2026 humanoid robot takes part in the second Beijing E-Town Half Marathon and Humanoid Robot Half Marathon&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56646,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mzansi"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56645","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56645"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56645\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56647,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56645\/revisions\/56647"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56645"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eduzim.co.zw\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}