Robots are taking over marathons in China

Would you trust a robot to pace your race?

A surprising number of robots have been spotted participating in marathon events in China in just one week. At the Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing on Sunday, Tiangong the Humanoid Robot was spotted cheering on participants before joining the race with 100m to go, crossing the finish line and earning a medal. At the Hangzhou Marathon in Hangzhou, China, on Nov. 3, two quadruped robots acted as official pacesetters and cheerleaders while running alongside participants.

Tiangong is the world’s first full-sized fully-electric humanoid robot, weighing in at 43 kg and standing at 163 cm. Its functions included waving, shaking hands and posing, according to Global Times.

The quadruped robots, Go2 and B2, were showcased in Hangzhou with different roles. Go2 provided runners with music, messages of encouragement and safety tips along the race course. It is also reportedly capable of shaking hands and performing backflips and handstands.

B2 set out at a steady pace for the half-marathon, providing runners with a reliable gauge of their pace. Tests were conducted to assess the machine’s ability to respond to humans and obstacles on the course. During the race, B2 wore bunny ears to emphasize its role as a pace-setting rabbit.

The robots’ abilities are not limited to running and maintaining steady paces. The machines can reportedly provide runners with real-time feedback on factors such as temperature and heart rate. The androids are also useful for upholding and enhancing safety measures during the event, facilitating real-time monitoring and detection of security or medical emergencies–even transporting medical supplies quickly across the venue when needed.

The benefits of the two- and four-legged robots suggest their prevalence at marathon events will continue to increase in coming years.

posted Tuesday November 12th
by Cameron Ormond