Chinese robot breaks human half-marathon record

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A Chinese humanoid robot has broken the human half-marathon world record by more than six minutes. Lighting, made by smartphone company Honor, was among more than 100 robots competing in a race alongside people in Beijing on Sunday, with the machines running on a parallel track to avoid crashes. It is a sign of how fast the technology is advancing. Last year’s inaugural race featured 20 robots, most of which did not finish and were directed by remote control. This time, half the robots navigated the course autonomously. Tech companies hope the machines could eventually replace humans everywhere from factory floors to battlegrounds. China leads the way, accounting for half of robot installations globally. It is not all plain sailing, however. One of the robots crashed into a bush shortly after crossing the finish line.