China's leading smart device provider HONOR will send its independently developed robots "Lightning" and "Energetic Boy" to participate in the 2026 Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing.
Co-hosted by the Beijing Municipal People's Government and China Media Group, the half marathon race will be held on April 19.
The robot "Lightning" integrates HONOR's latest achievements in intelligent manufacturing and embodied AI, possessing high-dynamic motion control algorithms, real-time perception and understanding capabilities, and autonomous decision-making abilities, according to its technical team.
Researchers equipped the robot with a self-developed integrated joint module to ensure that it can take big strides and runs fast.
"The prerequisite for a high step frequency is having sufficient power to swing the leg. Therefore, both the torque and rotational speed are indispensable. Our key module here can achieve a peak torque of 400 Newton-meters, which is equivalent to a high-performance car," said Yan Bin, chief architect of HONOR's new business incubation department.
Taking place in Beijing's Yizhuang District, the race will cover a total distance of 21.0975 kilometers with the route integrating urban main roads, international auto racing segments, and park ecological scenes, providing complex environment for robots to test their adaptation and decision-making capabilities.
Over 100 squads have already registered for this year's event.
To guide technological breakthroughs in areas like long endurance, human-like movement and dynamic environment adaptation, the event also innovatively introduces special awards such as the Best Endurance Award, Most Beautiful Gait Award, Best Design Award, and Best Perception Award.
HONOR's research team said the robot "Energetic Boy" is not as fast as "Lightning", but it is ready to compete for the Most Beautiful Gait Award with its flexible wrists and graceful moonwalk.
Xiao Jun, president of HONOR's new business incubation department, said the robot can be applied in various scenarios in the near future.
"In the future, our robot products can be used in scenarios like tour guide, shopping assistance and even housekeeping. The development of the robot industry chain will still require three to five years, or even five to 10 years to come. More importantly, it's about building technological capabilities. If we can achieve seamless connectivity between robots and other products in the future, the users' experience will be elevated to a whole new dimension," Xiao said.
Leading smart device producer's humanoid robots to compete in half marathon in Beijing
At least 16 people have been killed and 11 seriously injured as of 05:20 on Friday after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on Thursday night, according to Nagqu City's earthquake relief headquarters.
Local rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the epicenter of the quake in Baqeng County in Xizang’s Nagqu City, with an advance team from the Baqen County Fire and Rescue Brigade, consisting of eight personnel and two vehicles, successfully rescuing one trapped survivor after arriving at the scene in the early hours of Friday.
The Xizang Fire and Rescue Corps immediately mobilized 347 rescue personnel, 82 fire vehicles, and 15 search-and-rescue dogs, along with over 4,200 pieces of equipment and more than 9,400 items of logistical support supplies, to the quake zone.
Public security departments in Xizang also dispatched over 300 police officers to assist emergency rescue and relief operations. The police contingent will help evacuate residents to safe areas, assess structural damage to buildings, and ensure security in affected areas.
The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 22:33 on Thursday at a depth of 10km, was monitored at 32.40 degrees north latitude and 93.79 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
Xizang has activated a Level-II earthquake disaster emergency response, according to the regional emergency command center.
Maru Township, at the epicenter of the earthquake, is about 70 km from the county seat.
Lhawang Dagpo, deputy head of the township, said there had been reports of collapsed houses in Maru, and that rescue and relief operations were underway in villages across the township.
He added that the tremor was clearly felt at the township government office, where the walls of the office building sustained cracks.
Strong shaking was reported in the county seat of Baqen, where power was cut off and telecommunications services were disrupted.
Tremors were also felt in other parts of Xizang, including Qamdo and Nyingchi.
The office of the State Council earthquake relief headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV emergency response after the earthquake, sending a work team to the affected areas to guide emergency response and disaster relief work, according to the ministry.
A 4.3-magnitude aftershock was felt in Zadoi County in Qinghai Province, which borders Baqen County, at 23:12 on Thursday, according to CENC.
Strong tremors were felt in townships along the border between the two counties, with cracks appearing in some houses. No building collapses or casualties have been confirmed in these areas.
At least 16 killed in Xizang earthquake: local emergency command
