BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
China will host the world’s first half-marathon race between people and humanoid robots.
Dozens of humanoid robots are expected to join the 21km (13-mile) race in Beijing in April, local media outlets reported.
Around 12,000 humans will race robots from more than 20 companies in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area – also known as E-Town, in the capital’s Daxing district.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three runners.
In a statement, E-Town said companies, research institutes, robotics clubs and universities from around the world will be invited to enter their humanoid robots in the race.P
They must resemble humans and have a mechanical structure allowing them to walk or run, it said. They cannot be on wheels.
The robots must be between 0.5m and 2m tall and have a maximum extension distance from the hip joint to the sole of their feet of at least 0.45m.
Both remote-controlled and fully autonomous robots will be allowed to participate and operators will be allowed to replace batteries during the race.
It comes after a humanoid robot appeared at the finishing line of a half-marathon in Beijing last November.
The robot cheered on participants and ran across the finish line.
China has dozens of robot companies and while some produce humanoid robots, others create robotic dogs.
Last year China’s People’s Liberation Army was shown using robodogs firing weapons from their backs during training exercises.
