China races robots against humans in Beijing half-marathon

Robots ran alongside humans at the Yizhuang half-marathon in Beijing on Saturday.

Twenty-one humanoid robots, designed by Chinese manufacturers, raced alongside thousands of runners over a 21km (13-mile) course that included slopes, turns and uneven surfaces.

Some robots completed the race, while others struggled from the beginning. One robot fell at the starting line and lay flat for several minutes before getting up and taking off.

While robots have made appearances at marathons in China in the past, this is the first time they have raced against humans over the course of a half-marathon.