Tianhe robot takes on half-marathon challenge
The world witnessed the inaugural humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing, where 20 robots ran alongside 12,000 human participants. Among these robots, one was created by High Torque, a cutting-edge company in Tianhe district of Guangzhou.
A group photo of the robot participants is captured at the finish line of the Beijing half-marathon. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]
The robot, designated as MINI Hi, covered 15 kilometers of the 21-kilometer race, showcasing remarkable advancements in its physical structure, motion control, power management system, and sustained operation capabilities. While it did not meet the completion threshold of three hours and thirty minutes, it executed the distance without encountering power outages, overheating, falls, system malfunctions, or requiring manual intervention.
MINI Hi in the race. [Photo/Guangzhou Daily]
Weighing 17 kilograms and standing 82 centimeters tall, MINI Hi is comparable in height to a 2-year-old child, making it the smallest participant in the competition.
The robot's control engineer disclosed that MINI Hi is equipped with humanoid leg joints, enabling it to run, navigate obstacles, and climb stairs. Future efforts will prioritize enhancing the robot's upper limb functions to expand its potential for companionship and service tasks.