China pits robots against humans in half-marathon

Twenty-one humanoid robots joined thousands of runners at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday, the first time these machines have raced alongside humans over a 21-km course.

- Reuters

The robots from Chinese manufacturers such as DroidUp and Noetic Robotics came in all shapes and sizes, some smaller than 120 cm (3.9 ft), others as tall as 1.6 m (5.2 ft).

One company boasted that its robot looked almost human, with feminine features and the ability to wink and smile.

Some spectators treated the robots before the race, Beijing News have described the event as more akin to a race car competition, given the need for engineering and navigation teams.