Athletes are preparing for the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon, set to take place this Saturday in Beijing -- an ambitious event that underscores China's drive to lead in cutting-edge technology. Developers of humanoid robots say the race offers a valuable opportunity to test the machines' reliability, safety, and durability under real-world conditions over an extended period. "The marathon helps push humanoid robots one step closer toward industrialisation. Getting onto the race track might seem like a small step for humans, but it's a giant leap for humanoid robots," said Liang Liang, the management committee's deputy director of Beijing E-Town, where the race will be held. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES