Beijing is set to host the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon on Sunday, a groundbreaking event aimed not only at showcasing robotic athleticism but also at stress-testing the latest advances in robotics hardware and software.
The event marks a major milestone in the development of embodied AI and humanoid robotics.
Spanning over 21 kilometers, the half-marathon will require participating bipedal robots to execute approximately 250,000 precise joint movements.
Experts highlighted that ensuring stability, endurance, and agility over such a distance remains a significant technical challenge.
"First, it needs to overcome endurance challenges in real-world scenarios, address issues related to route selection and running, and resolve a series of problems such as communication and signal transmission during the process. Behind the effort to tackle these challenges are multiple teams working on foundational technologies, including joint mechanisms, heat dissipation, communications, and intelligent systems," said Su Guobin, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.
Organizers emphasized that the event is designed to drive forward integration between hardware and software, leading to meaningful upgrades in robotic capabilities.
At present, preparations for the race have served as a catalyst, leading to significant improvements in both the hardware and software capabilities of the robots.
"For example, during the development process for the marathon, we have developed more powerful joints for the robots. These will enhance their load-bearing capacity, torque, and the effectiveness of force generated through their limbs during movement. As the surrounding environment stimulates the robot, such as changes in terrain, it can respond accordingly. It may also use its cameras to assess the environment and adjust its movements in real time. All of this represents a strong application and advancement in the field of embodied intelligence," said Su.
The race, set for April 13 in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area in the capital city's southeast, will feature both robotic and human athletes competing on the same route but on separate tracks to ensure safety for all participants.
World's first humanoid robot half-marathon to push limits of humanoid robotics technology
Preliminary findings indicate that Israeli tank fire and a Hezbollah explosive were likely responsible for the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last week, a UN spokesperson said at a daily briefing on Tuesday.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) shared the initial findings of its inquiry with the governments of Indonesia, Israel and Lebanon, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
He said these are preliminary findings based on initial physical evidence, adding that a full UN investigation continues.
The spokesman said that all actors must fulfill their obligations to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of UN installations must be respected.
"These incidents are unacceptable. We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Attacks on United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law," said Dujarric.
The three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon in late March. A UN investigation determined that one died when Israeli tank fire struck a UNIFIL position on March 29. The next day, two others were killed when an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in a logistics convoy near Bani Hayyan. Initial findings pointed to a roadside blast.
UNIFIL paid tribute to the life and work of the fallen peacekeepers in an April 2 ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport, Beirut, before their remains were repatriated.
The three peacekeepers were posthumously awarded medals in recognition of their dedicated service to UNIFIL's mission in southern Lebanon.
On Saturday, the remains of the three fallen Indonesian peacekeepers arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport where they were received with honors by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto before being transferred to their respective hometowns for final rites.
The secretary-general earlier condemned the killings, extended his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and to the government of Indonesia, while expressing appreciation for the courage and service of all men and women serving with UNIFIL.
The UN Security Council, which mandated the UNIFIL mission, also condemned the attacks in a statement, offering condolences to the victims' families and to Indonesia. Council members reaffirmed their full support for UNIFIL.
Israeli tank fire, Hezbollah explosive likely killed 3 UN peacekeepers in Lebanon: spokesperson
