In a groundbreaking development set to take place in Beijing E-Town, a unique marathon is on the horizon, scheduled for April 13. This distinctive event will witness a competition between humans and humanoid robots along a 21-kilometer route, generating significant global interest as registrations open on March 5.

While the basic framework of the event has been public knowledge, the release of new regulations sheds light on the competition’s structure and significance. Notably, the recent announcement of plans to deploy more than 10,000 robots across various industries in conjunction with the marathon underscores the broader implications for China’s robotics sector.

The extended rules of the competition delineate specific guidelines for the robot category. Robots are required to complete the race within approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, with the provision for battery changes or robot substitutions during the relay. However, each alteration incurs a 10-minute penalty on the team’s final time. The competition exclusively permits humanoid robot designs, emphasizing bipedal participation and excluding wheel-based or multi-legged mechanisms. Both remote-controlled and fully autonomous robots are eligible to compete, with a strict mandate to ensure the safety of the course, spectators, and fellow competitors.

Participants will be evaluated based on not only their finishing times but also their adherence to technical regulations. The top three finishers stand to receive monetary prizes, with special recognition for endurance and innovative design. The competition welcomes entries from research institutions, universities, and robotics clubs worldwide, reflecting China’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in the realm of humanoid robotics.

Beyond the marathon itself, Beijing E-Town envisions a future as an “AI town,” with plans to introduce over 10,000 robot placements, including 1,000 humanoid robots, in a comprehensive program valued at nearly 5 billion yuan. These placements are slated for nine key sectors, such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and education, with prominent industry players like JD, Xiaomi Automotive, and Bayer already incorporating manufacturing robots for tasks like quality control and packaging. The deployment of humanoid robots in hazardous environments like factories, power plants, and mines aims to alleviate workers from strenuous or unsafe duties, with the Chinese humanoid robot market projected to expand significantly in the coming years.

China’s ambitious initiatives, coupled with the human-robot marathon, signify Beijing’s strategic approach to showcasing technological advancements and stimulating interest in practical applications of advanced robotics. While the marathon promises to be a futuristic sporting spectacle, it symbolizes a deliberate step towards widespread industrial integration and underscores China’s aspirations in the fields of AI and robotics.