Emperors once climbed Mount Tai to make offerings to heaven. On Monday the ancient stone stairway in Shandong, on China’s east coast, saw a very different kind of pilgrim. Close to 90 teams brought humanoid machines, four-legged robots and wearable exoskeletons to an inaugural robot climbing contest on the mountain, staged by the state broadcaster China Media Group.
The course was no gentle stroll. Almost four kilometres long, it climbed about 600 metres over more than 3,100 uneven steps, steep ramps and tight bends. Some entrants simply had to reach the top as quickly as possible; others were given delicate cargo, including fresh eggs and whole watermelons, and had to deliver it intact.
The mountain won a few rounds. Footage aired by CCTV showed a humanoid wearing a bandana crumpling onto the cobbles until its engineers rushed in, while another bounced down a staircase and came to rest next to a litter bin. Spectators lining the path seemed to enjoy the mishaps as much as the successes.
The leaders, though, were impressive. A robot dog from Beijing Lingyi Technology, part of the Unitree group, completed the full route in 43 minutes and 41 seconds, against the two hours or more that CCTV says most hikers need. The quickest humanoid, entered by the Beijing team Zhishen Lingyue, needed just under half an hour (27:26) for a shortened version of the route.
Organisers called the UNESCO-listed peak an ideal torture test for machines, arguing that a machine able to keep its balance here is better prepared for factories, building sites or rescue missions. Several categories came with prize money. For a country that wants to lead in robotics, a race on one of its most revered landmarks also doubled as a showcase.
