Humanoid robot "Tiangong" crosses the finish line with runners at the Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing on November 10, 2024. Photo: VCG

A humanoid robot named "Tiangong" has been in the spotlight since the just-concluded Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing, where it crossed the finish line together with human participants.

The race began at 8:00 am with runners embarking on the challenging 21.09-kilometer route. As the athletes surged ahead, Tiangong, dressed in black, stood on the sidelines and waved its arms to encourage the participants. 

Later in the race, as a large group of runners neared the finish line on Sunday, the robot Tiangong entered the track about 100 meters from the finish, acting as a "closing pacer" to help athletes cross the finish line together. 

Produced by the National and ­Local Co-Built Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong is a first-generation humanoid robot. Standing 163 centimeters tall and weighing 43 kilograms, it is the world's first full-sized humanoid robot that runs on electric drive, according to the official introduction to the robot. 

"At large events like marathons, robots can perform a variety of tasks," Jiang Hanya, an industry insider at a tech company based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday.

For example, quadruped and humanoid robots, similar to "pace bunnies," can assist pacers, especially in long-distance races like marathons. These robots can maintain steady speeds, helping runners control their pace while providing real-time data feedback on factors like heart rate, temperature, and air quality.

Additionally, robots can enhance safety at events through autonomous navigation, real-time monitoring, and big data analysis. Patrol robots can monitor safety along race routes, detect unusual crowd movement, or emergency situations, and quickly alert security personnel, he noted.

At crowded events, robots equipped with medical supplies can quickly move across the venue to provide emergency equipment such as defibrillators to those in need. They can also analyze an athlete's condition via cameras and sensors to identify those requiring immediate medical attention, Jiang added.

"The development of humanoid robot AI is still in its early stage, with robots lacking strong versatility and generalization, limiting their commercial value. The path of technological evolution is unclear, and data is still scarce," said Jiang.

Not only did the humanoid robot make an appearance at the Beijing Yizhuang Half Marathon, but four-legged robots also served as official pacers at the Hangzhou Marathon in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, on November 4. 

The four-legged robot maintained a steady pace of around 9 minutes and 24 seconds per kilometer, with a top running speed of up to 6 meters per second. They were equipped with "half-marathon pacer" balloons to help runners maintain a scientifically optimized running rhythm.

According to Zhejiang Television, this marks the first time in international marathon history that robotic pacers have been used. 

As previously reported by the Global Times, a larger robot, B2, took on the role of "cut-off pacers" for the half-marathon event, while a smaller one, known as Go2, served as companion pacers for the fun run.

An employee from Unitree Robotics, the Hangzhou-based civilian robotics company that presented these robots, previously told the Global Times that B2 has exceptional endurance and load capacity, with a combined operating range of 4 to 6 hours, a sustained walking load of 40 to 50 kilograms, and a maximum standing load capacity of 120 kilograms.

Go2, on the other hand, features a voice broadcast function, allowing it to play music, deliver cheerful messages, and give safety reminders while running, providing emotional support to runners.

In recent years, China has seen robust growth in the integration of technology and sports. As early as 2023's Hangzhou Asian Games, a "digital torchbearer" was featured at the opening and closing ceremonies, while at the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games, terahertz communication technology enabled transmission speeds of up to 80 Gbps, providing a better visual experience for global audiences.

From corporate sporting events enhanced with digital technology to the "Village Basketball Association" with its smart sports equipment, and to large-scale events attracting international attention, technology and smart elements are visible everywhere.

Outside of sporting events, the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center's swimming pool has been outfitted with smart ticketing, intelligent gates, and smart lockers. People can enter the venue to exercise using new methods, such as palm scanning.