Humanoid robot stuns passersby as it walks over 100 km across China in big tech milestone

Walking over 100 km across China, a human-shaped robot named AgiBot A2 secured a spot in the history books while achieving a huge milestone in the world of robotics.

Created by Agibot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. (China), the robot walked 106.286 km (66.04 mi; 348,707 ft 4.322 in) from 10 to 13 November to set the record for longest journey walked by a humanoid robot.

AgiBot A2’s journey lasted an amazing 56 hours, 7 minutes and 49 seconds. It walked all the way from Jingi Lake in Suzhou to the Bund in Shanghai.

That’s about 16 times as long as the Las Vegas strip.

To prepare for the epic journey, the robot was put through hundreds of hours of testing to ensure it wouldn’t fall during its long-distance walk.

And before the attempt, on 17 August, the robot successfully completed a 24-hour fully autonomous walk in high temperatures nearing 40°C, which was broadcast live online.

The AgiBot A2 was not guided by a human in any way and was not being controlled remotely during its record-breaking journey.

The robot used its own brain to sense and understand the world around it in order to get to its destination safely.

With a digital screen on its face, it could wink and make other facial expressions to the stunned people who saw it wander by.

People walking, cycling and driving by did double takes, barely able to believe their eyes.

Find more stories like this in our Science and Technology section.

During the journey, the robot’s battery had to be swapped 15 times and the team following it took one 17-hour rest period.

AgiBot A2 also had to stop at one point for seven minutes to avoid a heavy downpour of rain.

The robot took in lots of beautiful sights along the way, walking along coastlines as well as city centre streets and alongside busy roads.

Ending its journey along the historic Bund waterfront promenade, it pointed across the Huangpu River at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower to declare the finish line had been reached.

AgiBot A2 then waved at the crowd and posed for pictures with curious witnesses to its record-breaking feat.

It fully deserves its new celebrity status.