AOSHI and Skywork Triumph at Robotic Marathon
20 April 2025 · Uncategorized ·
Source: · https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20250419A07QVV00
After a month of anticipation, the world's first humanoid robot marathon commenced. As an avid follower of cutting-edge technology at Leitech (雷科技), I eagerly tuned in to witness this historic event live. The initial moments proved surprisingly entertaining.
The 'G1' from Unitree stumbled shortly after starting—a demonstration of a non-official team’s self-developed algorithm. Other participants included an enthusiastic, young-looking robot sporting running shoes and even robots propelled by fans. I hadn't anticipated such diverse approaches to the challenge, offering valuable insight into the range of humanoid machine designs. One particular robot, resembling 'Gundam' (高达), made a lasting impression with its unique movement style.
However, land-based mobility relies heavily on robust leg structures for balance and control. The fan-assisted robot struggled significantly at the start, ultimately crashing into a wall due to instability. Similarly, the ‘Shennong’ from Huazhong University of Science and Technology encountered difficulties immediately; despite attempts by its human operator, it was unable to move forward. Another participant managed only to clear the starting line before being withdrawn for repairs.
Despite these setbacks, some robots demonstrated impressive performance at their start positions—most notably Skywork Ultra (天工Ultra), which surged ahead and ultimately won the race.
Completing a full marathon – 21 kilometers – proved exceptionally challenging; only seven teams reached the checkpoint at 13km, with those failing to do so within four hours declared non-finishers. A popular 'beauty' robot named Huahan (幻幻) collapsed shortly after beginning the course. Throughout the race, many robots faced issues such as overheating and joint wear resulting from continuous high loads; this caused servomotors in their joints to overheat or slow down significantly, leading to falls. The endurance of these machines was severely tested, with some requiring replacement parts mid-race.
This marathon underscored significant challenges for current robotic technology, including limitations in battery life—most robots required multiple recharges during the event—and ongoing refinements needed in balance algorithms. While often perceived as a marketing spectacle or entertainment showcase, this competition serves an important purpose by pushing technological boundaries and highlighting advancements across fields such as algorithm optimization, material science, and motor design – all crucial for practical robotics applications.
The 'G1' from Unitree stumbled shortly after starting—a demonstration of a non-official team’s self-developed algorithm. Other participants included an enthusiastic, young-looking robot sporting running shoes and even robots propelled by fans. I hadn't anticipated such diverse approaches to the challenge, offering valuable insight into the range of humanoid machine designs. One particular robot, resembling 'Gundam' (高达), made a lasting impression with its unique movement style.
However, land-based mobility relies heavily on robust leg structures for balance and control. The fan-assisted robot struggled significantly at the start, ultimately crashing into a wall due to instability. Similarly, the ‘Shennong’ from Huazhong University of Science and Technology encountered difficulties immediately; despite attempts by its human operator, it was unable to move forward. Another participant managed only to clear the starting line before being withdrawn for repairs.
Despite these setbacks, some robots demonstrated impressive performance at their start positions—most notably Skywork Ultra (天工Ultra), which surged ahead and ultimately won the race.
Completing a full marathon – 21 kilometers – proved exceptionally challenging; only seven teams reached the checkpoint at 13km, with those failing to do so within four hours declared non-finishers. A popular 'beauty' robot named Huahan (幻幻) collapsed shortly after beginning the course. Throughout the race, many robots faced issues such as overheating and joint wear resulting from continuous high loads; this caused servomotors in their joints to overheat or slow down significantly, leading to falls. The endurance of these machines was severely tested, with some requiring replacement parts mid-race.
This marathon underscored significant challenges for current robotic technology, including limitations in battery life—most robots required multiple recharges during the event—and ongoing refinements needed in balance algorithms. While often perceived as a marketing spectacle or entertainment showcase, this competition serves an important purpose by pushing technological boundaries and highlighting advancements across fields such as algorithm optimization, material science, and motor design – all crucial for practical robotics applications.