Robots Climb Mount Tai in Endurance Race
Competitors from 90 teams navigated 3,000 steps carrying fragile items in a new challenge hosted by China Media Group.
By Matthew Brooks ·
Dozens of robots attempted a steep climb up Mount Tai in Shandong Province, China, on Monday.
The event served as a test of machine endurance on a course featuring 3,000 steps and 1,970 feet of ascent.
State media footage showed the machines navigating the rugged terrain of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Organizers structured the competition around two main objectives.
Some teams aimed for the fastest possible completion time, while others focused on transporting fragile goods like fresh eggs and watermelons to the summit.
The race was part of the World Mountain Robot Challenge, organized by the state-run China Media Group.
Approximately 90 teams, consisting of robots and their engineers, participated in the event.
A canine robot manufactured by Beijing Lingyi Technology won the four-legged speed category.
The machine, a subsidiary of Unitree, finished the 2.4-mile course in 43 minutes and 41 seconds.
For context, most human tourists require at least two hours to complete the same route.
In the humanoid division, a robot from the Beijing-based team Zhishen Lingyue set the fastest time.
That machine completed a shorter race course in 27 minutes and 26 seconds.
