Beijing to host world's 1st humanoid robot marathon—What we know
What's the story
China is gearing up to host the world's first-ever robot half-marathon in Beijing on April 13. The event, as the name suggests, will be all about demonstrating the speed, agility, and performance of humanoid robots. It will span a distance of 21km and put the hardware capabilities of the participating bots to a real test. The competition is mainly aimed at promoting Chinese robotic tech globally.
Race details
Only humanoid robots allowed to participate
The race will only include humanoid, bipedal robots like Casbot's Casbot 01 and Magiclab's Wheat. These competing bots can be remote-controlled (even semi-autonomous) or fully autonomous. The winner could take home a humble ¥5,000 ($691) as first prize. Other prizes will also be given for best gait, most popular robot, and for those who make it to the finish line.
Tech test
Robotic marathon: A unique opportunity to compare robots
Zhou Di, an expert from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, called the 21km race a "pretty extreme test." He said that in industrial and household applications, long-distance running isn't typically a priority for robots. The robotic marathon would not just be an innovative marketing tool but also a real opportunity to compare robots.
Development hurdles
Advanced humanoid robots still have a long way to go
Both the Casbot 01 and Wheat robots, which stand over 1.7m tall and weigh about 60kg, are pretty much similar to an average human's height and weight. However, despite their advanced capabilities, they still have a long way to go before they can run extensively. Chen Chunyu, Vice President of Magiclab, noted potential issues like misalignment of software commands and motor movements that could lead to a fall.
Engineering challenges
Long-distance running events test robots' engineering
Long-distance running events such as this one present complicated engineering challenges for the competing bots. From strain on joints demanding high torque, to constant motor operation causing overheating, and more wear and tear on robot parts, there are plenty of issues to tackle. Yang Guodong, Co-founder of Casbot, said only bots passing these tests are ready for customer delivery. He added if this competition had been held a year ago, not many bots would have been able to participate.