Published on: 2026-04-22
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Beijing, April 22 /Xinhua/ — 50 minutes 26 seconds! On April 19, at the Beijing half-marathon Ichzuan 2026, which also became a half-marathon for humanoid robots, the robot “Shandian” /”Lightning”/, developed by the Chinese company Shenzhen Honor Smart Technology Co., Ltd., crossed the finish line with a result significantly exceeding the world record for men in the half-marathon (57 minutes 20 seconds), setting a new record in the humanoid robot competition. This is a vivid example of the advancement of the Chinese humanoid robot industry from technological followership to global leadership, from laboratories to real-world application scenarios.
At 7:30 a.m. on April 19, a starting shot was fired, and about 12 thousand human runners together with more than 300 humanoid robots took to the track. According to the race rules, the robots started sequentially, one at a time, with an interval of 30 seconds. In the end, the “Molniya” robot won, covering a distance of 21 km on a special track in 50 minutes 26 seconds, with its peak speed reaching 10 m/s, approaching the limit of human sprinting.
“This is a landmark breakthrough in the dynamic characteristics of Chinese humanoid robots,” noted Tan Ziyan, Chief Technology Officer of the Beijing Innovation Center for Humanoid Robots. Running a 21 km race is a serious test for the systems of visual perception, intellectual recognition, battery capacity, and the robot’s ability to maintain dynamic balance.
Compared to last year, the overall results of completed robots have significantly improved: stability of autonomy, smoothness of movement, and algorithmic robustness have achieved noticeable progress. Behind every step in the development of humanoid robots are breakthroughs from China at all stages of the chain – from the production of key components to intelligent systems and systematic integration.
Humanoid robots, as a synthesis of artificial intelligence, precision engineering, materials science, and other fields, are considered an important bearer of productive forces of a new quality. Today, China has become a key force in the global humanoid robot industry, firmly occupying a place in the first echelon of the world by the overall level of its development.
According to data for 2025, China’s share in the global volume of humanoid robot installations exceeded 80%. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, in 2025 the number of Chinese enterprises producing humanoid robots exceeded 140, and more than 330 robot models were released.
Relying on technologies of large models and combined virtual-reality training, Chinese robots have freed themselves from dependence on preset programs, independently mastering motion logic and making decisions in real time. Robots developed by companies such as Unitree Robotics and UBTECH are already capable of performing complex movements, including backward somersaults and 720-degree rotations, with movement stability and smoothness reaching advanced industry levels.
Siu Syaolan, chairman of the board of the China Electronics Association, previously stated that Chinese humanoid robots, having gone through the stage of solving the most complex technological tasks to industry leadership, have become guides, directing its development on a planetary scale. In the future, it is necessary to intensify efforts to develop the industry and optimize the industrial innovation ecosystem to make it an important driver of the development of productive forces of a new quality both in China and worldwide.
From the Beijing half-marathon among people and robots to performances on the stage of the gala concert in honor of the Spring Festival, from precise operations in the factory workshop to popularity in the foreign market — Chinese humanoid robots are accelerating the transition from the “run on the arena” stage to the stages of “home use” and “factory work.”
Tan Qiyan also reported that as technology improves, humanoid robots will be deeply integrated into manufacturing and daily life, playing an important role in increasing the efficiency of processing industries, modernizing public services, performing work in special conditions, becoming a key driver of the development of new quality productive forces.
The year 2026 is considered by the industry as the “first year of large-scale mass production and commercialization of humanoid robots.” According to recently published industry reports, the global humanoid robot industry will enter a key phase of commercialization in the second half of 2026. Chinese companies are quickly determining scenarios for commercial use and increasing production capacity, and it is expected that production volume will significantly grow in 2026.
From catching up to the leader, from technological breakthroughs to the creation of an ecosystem — Chinese humanoid robots are writing the history of China’s independent innovation in the field of high technologies. In the future, with continuous growth of innovation activity and improvement of the industry ecosystem, Chinese humanoid robots will inevitably accelerate even more, taking leading positions in the global technological and industrial revolution.
Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.