Robots ran a half marathon with humans for the first time: Some finished the race, one fell at the start, lay down, then got up...

A total of 21 humanoid robots joined thousands of runners in today's Yizhuang Half Marathon in Beijing, marking the first time the machines have raced alongside humans over the 21-kilometer course, Reuters reports.

Robots from Chinese manufacturers came in all shapes and sizes, some shorter than 120 centimeters, others as tall as 1,8 meters.

One company boasted that its robot looked almost human, with feminine facial features and the ability to wink and smile, according to Reuters.

Some companies tested their robots weeks before the race.

Beijing officials described the event as more akin to a race car competition, given the need for engineering and navigation teams.

"The robots are working very well, very stably... I feel like I'm witnessing the evolution of robots and artificial intelligence," said viewer He Xishu, who works in the field of artificial intelligence.

The robots were accompanied by human trainers, some of whom had to physically assist the machines during the race.

Several robots wore running shoes, with one wearing boxing gloves and another wearing a red headband.

The winning robot is Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Human Robotics Innovation Center, with a time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.

In humans, the winner of the men's race had a time of one hour and 2 minutes.

Tang Jian, chief technology officer of the robotics center, said Tiangong Ultra's performance was aided by its long legs and an algorithm that allows it to mimic how humans run a marathon.

"I don't want to brag, but I don't think any other robotics company in the West has been able to match Tiangong's sporting achievements," Tang said, adding that the robot only changed batteries three times during the race.

Some robots, like Tiangong Ultra, finished the race, while one fell at the starting line and lay there for several minutes before getting up and moving. One hit a fence after running a few meters.

Although humanoid robots have appeared in marathons in China over the past year, this is the first time they have raced alongside humans.