Dubai, UAE — A humanoid robot completed a half-marathon in China in a time faster than the human world record, according to state media and industry reports, highlighting rapid advances in robotics.
The robot, widely referred to as “Lightning” or “Flash,” finished the 21.1-kilometer race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds at the Beijing E-Town humanoid robot half-marathon, state news agency Xinhua News Agency reported.
The time is faster than the official men’s half-marathon world record of 57 minutes and 20 seconds, set by Jacob Kiplimo.
The robot was developed by a Chinese technology firm, identified in state media as affiliated with Honor, and competed alongside dozens of other humanoid machines in the event.
The race was not conducted under rules set by World Athletics, and the robot’s performance is not recognized as an official record.
The event was held in Beijing’s E-Town, a state-backed development zone focused on advanced manufacturing and robotics, and was designed to test the endurance and mobility of humanoid machines in real-world conditions.
Separate reports said the performance marks a significant improvement from earlier trials, where comparable robots took more than two hours to complete the distance.
China accelerates robotics development
China has been expanding its robotics sector as part of broader efforts to advance manufacturing and automation, with strong policy support and rising investment.
The country accounts for a large share of global robot installations and is pushing development of humanoid machines through companies including UBTech Robotics and Unitree Robotics.
Industry data cited by International Federation of Robotics shows China remains the world’s largest market for industrial robots.
Events such as the Beijing humanoid half-marathon are being used to test performance capabilities, though most humanoid robots are still at an early stage of commercial deployment.