Running robots put through their paces alongside humans in Beijing half-marathon

Thousands of runners were joined by 21 humanoid robots at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on April 19, 2025. The event was the first time such machines had raced alongside humans over a 21km (13-mile) course. The robots came in all shapes and sizes and were made by several Chinese manufacturers, including DroidVP and Noetix Robotics. Human trainers accompanied the robots, in some cases physically supporting the machines during the event.