China is preparing for its second robot half-marathon in Beijing, with the official race scheduled for April 19. Participation has surged dramatically compared to last year, with approximately 100 teams registered and around 300 robots expected to attempt the course. More than 70 teams participated in an overnight test run in Beijing's E-Town development zone ahead of the official race. The test run simulated key elements of the official event, including route navigation, equipment coordination, and emergency response. Yang Kechang of China Agricultural University described how his team assembled their robot just at 1 PM on the day of the test run and immediately entered it into the competition. The number of robots that successfully completed the test run has not been confirmed.
Technological aspects and challenges faced by teams during testing included both remotely controlled and fully autonomous robots. Around 40% of teams are now relying on fully autonomous navigation. Specific improvements teams are making to address overheating and battery issues remain unclear. Yang Kechang's robot experienced overheating joints that required cooling during battery changes, and Xu Bo's team's 1.3-meter-tall robot ran into overheating motor issues and fast-draining batteries. The exact breakdown of teams using remotely controlled versus fully autonomous robots has not been disclosed.
We assembled this robot just at 1 PM today and immediately entered it into the competition.
This year's event introduces new features compared to last year's inaugural competition. New awards have been introduced, including prizes for endurance and for simply finishing. At last year's event, only six out of 21 robots that started managed to finish. The exact course layout and location details for the official race have not been released.
For many teams, the event is as much about experimentation as competition. This broader context underscores the event's role in advancing robotics technology through practical testing and innovation. The surge in participation reflects growing interest in robotics development in China, with teams using the event to test new technologies and overcome technical hurdles. The competition serves as a platform for both academic and industrial teams to showcase their innovations and learn from real-world challenges.