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Humanoid robots shatter records at Beijing half-marathon competition

Over 100 robot teams competed in Beijing's humanoid half-marathon, with the Honor robot winning in 50:26. The Unitree robot broke the human 1,500-meter world record in qualifying, and 40% of participants used autonomous navigation, reflecting significant year-over-year performance improvements.

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The essentials

Honor humanoid robot won Beijing half-marathon; Unitree broke 1,500m world record.

Over 100 robot teams competed in the Beijing Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon, showcasing rapid advances in autonomous robotics. The Honor humanoid robot won the competition with a time of 50 minutes 26 seconds, while the Unitree humanoid robot broke the human 1,500-meter world record during qualifying rounds.

The event demonstrated significant technological progress, with approximately 40% of participants utilizing autonomous navigation systems. Performance improvements were notably marked compared to the inaugural 2025 race, indicating accelerating development in humanoid robotics capabilities. The competition brought together diverse engineering teams and showcased the current state of autonomous bipedal locomotion technology.

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Competition Results

Honor edges field with fastest half-marathon time

The Honor humanoid robot captured first place with 50 minutes 26 seconds, outpacing over 100 competing teams. Simultaneously, the Unitree robot achieved a 1,500-meter qualifying time that surpassed the human world record, demonstrating elite-level performance. These finishes represent concrete measurable outcomes from the competition.

Technology Trends

Autonomous systems drive rapid improvements in robotics

Approximately 40% of participating teams employed autonomous navigation, indicating growing reliance on independent decision-making systems. Substantial performance gains from the inaugural 2025 event to this year demonstrate accelerating technological capabilities. The breadth of competition—over 100 teams—reflects expanding industry interest and investment in humanoid robotics development.