Chinese Humanoid Robots Get Reality Check In Half-Marathon Debut

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“Firstly, we reduced our robot's weight; secondly, we improved its heat dissipation system to avoid overheating; Thirdly, we added a cushioning function to minimize wear on its sole and joint modules,” he added.“What is more important is that we increased the length of our robot's legs to run faster.”

“The commercialization of humanoid robots will have three phases. In the first phase, robots will be used in general industries; then, they will be used in specific commercial environments to finish tasks such as packaging and scanning codes; finally, they will be deployed to homes to play the role of nanny and housekeeper,” Tang said.

He said it would take Chinese companies three to five years to commercialize their robots, by which time they would be deployed in homes to serve people and do chores.

X-Humanoid, officially known as Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, was formed jointly by robotics firm Ubtech, electronics and electric vehicle maker Xiaomi and the Beijing municipal government.

Shares of the Hong Kong-listed Ubtech Robotics increased 2.9% on Tuesday. Shares of the state-owned Shoucheng Holdings, which has invested in X-Humanoid and Noetix, rose 4%.

Testing 'cerebellums'

According to the marathon rules, each team can deploy three staff members to assist a robot. The robot does not need an autopilot system; its remote controller can be wired or wireless.

The race terrain includes flat land and ramps, with a maximum slope of 9 degrees. The race route has six left-turn and eight right-turn lanes.

One of the robot developers who joined the marathon said this activity aims to test robots' cerebellums (ability to control the body) instead of their cerebrums (ability to make decisions and think).

Of the 21 robot runners, only six completed the race, while the remaining 15 failed.

A small robot went up in smoke during a marathon in Beijing on April 7, 2025. Photo: Baidu

A small robot developed by Beijing Polytechnic University students overheated and went up in smoke. Some other teams sprayed water on their robots to keep them cool.

A female-looking robot walked a short distance and fell. One Gundam (from a Japanese comic) robot used four fans to move forward, but crashed seconds after beginning its journey.

“The winning secret of Noetix's N2 robot is its stable mechanical structure and superior algorithm performance,” Hu Chenxu, founder and chief scientist of Noetix, told the media.“Small robots have a lot of advantages, such as higher flexibility and agility. Many research institutes use small robots to do their research work.”

A female-looking robot has ended her journey after walking for a short distance. Photo: Baidu

“Robots need a high adaptability to go from the laboratory to the marathon track,” he said.

He said he once worried that the N2 robot, which is more like a gymnast, would not be a good runner; fortunately, the robot performed exceptionally well, except it needed a new remote controller after a battery change.

He said Noetix's robots are now used in scientific research, education, exhibitions, cultural, and tourism sectors and will be deployed for scenarios such as elderly care, industrial inspection and urban security.