We all knew this day would come, and we all knew this would happen in Japan: robot maker Vstone has announced what it says is the first full marathon [JP] for humanoids on February 24 in Osaka. The group of five mini robots will “run” (rather walk) around a 100m long course exactly 421 times plus another 95m to complete a marathon (42.195km).
Vstone will start the race next Friday at 10am in the morning Japanese time and expects it to end at 8pm on the 27th. The whole event will be streamed live on the Vstone Ustream channel.
One of the humanoids and the robo car you see in the video embedded below will stream the race from their perspectives (channels of the humanoid, car).
This video shows the participating robots (you can see the Vstone Robovie is one of them) during a test run:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkA2vPCb140&w=640&h=390]
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
Via Robonable [JP]
