I bet these engineers never imagined they’d be running a marathon while coding on their laptops one day… When did engineering turn into such a physically demanding job?
In the inaugural edition of the Beijing robot marathon last year, it was more of a spectacle than a sport. But this year, it became an international talking point. A robot from the Shenzhen-based tech company HONOR set a half-marathon record, beating the human record by a full 7 minutes. Second and third place? Also, HONOR machines. What an honor, indeed.
But it wasn’t just the record-breaking headline that captured public attention; the marathon quickly became a viral chaos. Videos of robots running funny, toppling before the race even began, or even breaking into ballet moves mid-run have flooded Chinese social media. In a moment of man versus machine, there’s even a robot that knocked over a security guard. It’s an entire meme goldmine.
The most beloved competitor is a miniature robot sporting oversized feet and an even larger head modeled after Doubao’s mascot, the AI assistant developed by ByteDance and one of China’s most popular AI tools. The absolute visual absurdity caused an uproar across social media.
Netizens nicknamed it “Doujiao,” swapping bao (bun) for jiao (feet), which together also means green beans. Designed by blogger-engineer 同济子豪兄, in collaboration with 高擎动力 (High Torque Robotics) and artist KIGLAND, the robot even earned approval from Doubao itself:
But perhaps the most heartwarming sight comes after the finish line: engineers going home with their robots with an arm slung over a metal shoulder.
These Chinese engineers are just as willing to highlight their mishaps as their milestones, which are also hard to miss. At last week’s Canton Fair—China’s largest trade expo—a locally developed exoskeleton helped a disabled European woman walk independently, offering a glimpse of the real-world potential of robotics. Despite the viral goofs, it looks like China’s robotics industry is evolving at a steady pace and stumbling (figuratively) toward a more automated future.
Cover image via RedNote.
