Key Points:
- Agibot A2 robot walked 106.286 kilometers from Suzhou to Shanghai, earning Guinness World Record
- Journey began November 10 night and completed November 13 morning, taking nearly three days
- Used innovative hot-swap battery system for continuous operation without shutdown
- Navigated complex urban environments using dual GPS, LiDAR, and infrared depth sensors
- Robot stands 169 cm tall, weighs 55 kg, with AI-driven sensory capabilities
- Previous record was 21-kilometer half-marathon by Tien Kung Ultra in 2 hours 40 minutes
China has once again proven its dominance in the technological world as humanoid robot A2, developed by Shanghai-based tech company Agibot, performed a feat that would astonish even humans. The robot set a Guinness World Record by completing a 106-kilometer inter-city walk continuously between eastern Chinese cities, demonstrating the robot’s strength, balance, and technical capabilities to a new level. According to a report in China Daily, the humanoid model A2 began its journey from Suzhou on the night of November 10 and completed its mission by reaching Shanghai’s iconic Bund area on the morning of November 13. The robot continued its journey without stopping for a single second, officially recording a distance of 106.286 kilometers.
Advanced Technology Provides Strong Support
Agibot’s cutting-edge technology has played a major role in A2’s success. The company incorporated a hot-swap battery system, allowing the robot’s battery to be replaced without powering it off. The robot’s dual GPS module, LiDAR system, and infrared depth sensor helped it maintain stability even in challenging conditions, such as crowded sidewalks, narrow streets, ramps, bridges, and traffic lights. Its perception and navigation capabilities remained excellent both day and night. Wang Chuang, the company’s senior vice president, said that such a long distance is challenging even for humans, but A2 completed it with astonishing ease.
Robot’s Specifications and Capabilities
The AgiBot A2 stands at 169 centimeters (five feet six inches) and weighs 55 kilograms (121 pounds). Equipped with AI-driven sensory capabilities, the robot can interpret text, audio, and visual stimuli, and execute delicate tasks such as threading a needle. During its journey, the robot traversed asphalt roads, tiled walkways, bridges, tactile paving, and ramps while adhering to traffic rules. The robot’s ability to navigate varied surfaces and maintain stable perception during day and night demonstrates its readiness for real-world applications.
Robot A2’s Reaction and Media Interaction
When Xinhua reporters spoke with A2 after arriving in Shanghai, the robot described the journey as an “unforgettable experience in machine life”. Jokingly, it remarked, “Maybe I’ll need new shoes now”. The robot can interact in multiple languages, recognize faces and remember them, navigate autonomously, and perform reporting tasks. This light-hearted interaction with the media showcased the robot’s advanced communication capabilities beyond just physical endurance.
China’s Humanoid Robots Have Made a Mark Before
This isn’t the first time a Chinese humanoid robot has surprised the world by traveling long distances. Earlier in April, Tien Kung Ultra of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center made headlines by completing a 21-kilometer half-marathon in just 2 hours and 40 minutes. This new record by A2 proves that robotics technology is rapidly evolving and that in the future, humanoid robots will be seen operating on a large scale in the real world. The accomplishment comes as AgiBot continues to accelerate its commercialization efforts, following reports that the company is planning a Hong Kong IPO next year.
