4月19日，北京亦庄的赛道上，机器人“天工Ultra”跌跌撞撞跑完了21公里，拿下全球首个人形机器人半程马拉松的冠军，用时2小时40分42秒。这场面，观众看了又笑又鼓掌，网上更是炸开了锅：机器人跑马拉松，还摔倒好几次，这不就是咱普通人追梦的样子吗？

比赛当天，20支机器人队伍和1.2万名人类选手一起冲出起点。机器人可不是“单打独斗”，每个队伍后面都跟着领航员、工程师，像赛车比赛似的随时准备“换胎”——哦不，是换电池。赛道上，平路、斜坡、草地、石子路啥都有，机器人得稳住步伐，还得省着点电跑完全程。这活儿，搁谁身上都不轻松。

"Tiangong Ultra" is made by Shenzhen UBTECH and Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, with a height of 8.0 meters, running like an office worker in a desperate hurry. Guo Yijie, the technical person in charge, said that in order to make "Tiangong" run fast and steady, they simulated training in the computer every day, adjusted the strength of the joints, and calculated the rhythm of the pace. The result? "Tiangong" learned to look at the road conditions, not afraid of slopes, not panic when turning, and can get up and run by himself if he falls.

The runner-up is a robot called "Little Naughty Boy", from the Songyan Power N75 team, running like a child bouncing and jumping, so cute. There is also a "little giant" team, the robot is only 0 cm tall, running slowly and leisurely, and the audience called "too cute". However, don't look at them running happily, the battery drains quickly during the race, and some robots have to stop and "recharge" halfway through. This scene is like when we are tired of running and have to stop to drink saliva and catch our breath.

This game isn't just fun. Xiong Youjun, the boss of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, said that this competition is a "big test" for robot technology. To run 21 kilometers, the robot must have good joints, good batteries, and be able to "think" how to run steadily. Fall? Normal! Changing the battery? It's a must! These "overturning" moments are the precious data of technological progress.

The pictures on the track were all filmed in the live broadcast footage. A robot fell, got up and waved at the audience, and the audience applauded; There is a robot running and its head falls off, and the engineer installs it back and continues to run; There is also a robot that can't run, and the staff runs directly with it, and the scene is very similar to parents running with their babies. In this competition, there are a lot of laughs, but it is also touching - the robot falls and gets up again, isn't it like we have to move forward after falling in our lives?

There is a team at Tsinghua University that uses Shenzhen Leju's "Kuafu" robot, which can run at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour. They have made a clever algorithm to let the robot learn while running, running effortless and steadily. Even if the cold wind blows outside and the terrain is complicated, "Kuafu" can last for more than 0 minutes without dropping the chain. This technology, if it is used in inspection and rescue in the future, will be more worry-free.

这场比赛为啥这么火？因为它不光是跑步，还让大家看到中国机器人技术有多牛。北京亦庄这地方，机器人产业早就扎了根，优必选、小米这样的企业都在这儿搞研发。去年10月，北京人形机器人创新中心升级成了国家级中心，他们的机器人能在雪地跑、爬百级台阶，速度能到12公里每小时。这实力，世界一流！

The competition also has a big meaning: to push the technology forward. To run a marathon, robots need to use good motors, soft joints, and wear-resistant materials. Running is a full-body exercise, and the robot has to make every part fit together seamlessly. This not only makes the robot stronger, but also drives the upstream and downstream industries such as batteries and algorithms to upgrade together. Experts say that this game is like a game console in the 3s, with rough graphics and simple operation, but it has evolved step by step into the current 0D masterpiece. Robots are also at this stage now, and falling is the norm, but they will definitely be able to run more steadily and do more in the future.

Why do audiences love to watch it? Because the picture of the robot falling down and getting up is too much like us ordinary people. Who hasn't wrestled in life? Who hasn't gritted their teeth and persevered? When "Tiangong Ultra" crossed the line, it staggered, but the audience gave it the loudest applause. A netizen said: "This robot looks like I was out of breath when I ran 800 meters!" This resonance makes the competition not only a competition of technology, but also a dialogue between people and technology.

In this marathon, robots and humans run the same road, but each has its own track. The robot is slow, and it would be nice to finish the race in 1 hours. What about human players? The fastest 0 hours will be at the end. Liang Liang of the Beijing Economic Development Zone said that this competition is not to compete with anyone, but to let everyone see the combination of technology and life. Robot marathon running is a starting point, and in the future, they may go to work in factories, rescue people in disaster areas, or even go into the house to help you take care of the elderly.

The game is over, but the online discussion has not stopped. Some people say that robot marathons look fun, but technology is far from entering life; Some people also think that the robot can run 21 kilometers, which is good enough, and the future will definitely be even better. What do you think? The appearance of the robot falling down and getting up again, does it also remind you of the days when you chased your dreams?