In a square flanked by metal fences, under the spring sun, A group of humanoid robots He prepares for the unthinkable: run a half marathon.
They will do it this Saturday in the capital of China, Beijing, in the Yizhuang Technology District, sharing departure and tour with human corridors, in The first race in the world of this typeaccording to the organizers, who seeks to rehearse coexistence between people and machines.
It is not an exhibition, but a technical test in real conditions, in a 21 -kilometer urban circuit with curves, earrings and irregular surfacesalthough the two types of athletes will be separated by defined lanes.
Nearly 20 humanoid robots will participate, accompanied by their technical teamsoperators and reference runners.
“It’s not just a race. It is a global innovation platform. We want robotics to live with us,” summarizes Liang Liang, vice president of the Organizing Committee.
Months ‘training’ for the moment
Many of the robots that will compete were designed to walk, not to run. Its teams have spent weeks modifying algorithms, reinforcing structures and rehearsing on asphalt.
Some have been equipped with shoes to absorb impacts. Others will follow a human corridor to keep the pace.
“Our robot just walked. We had to teach him to run, and do it in long distances,” explains Droidup, one of the participating companies.
The comparison with Formula 1 is not accidental: robots compete in counterreloj format, with Technical stops for changing batteries or making adjustments. The objective is to complete the distance without critical errors, not necessarily arrive first.
Among the participants who are exercised in the previous days, Tiangong stands out, A 1.8 -meter robot that already participated in Beijing in a half human marathon Last November as ‘Closing Rabbit’ -The Corridor “broom” that closes the race. Then, he only toured the first and last sections.
“Now the goal is to do the whole tour,” says one of his operators in Humanoid, Oliver Ji.
