Robot Walks 66 Miles Across China, Sets World Record

A humanoid robot named AgiBot A2 walked 66 miles across China without anyone controlling it, setting a Guinness World Record and marking a huge leap forward in robotics technology.

The robot traveled 106 kilometers from Suzhou's Jingi Lake to Shanghai's famous Bund waterfront between November 10 and 13. The journey took 56 hours of walking time, with AgiBot A2 navigating busy city streets, coastal paths, and highways completely autonomously.

Unlike remote-controlled robots or those following preset routes, AgiBot A2 used its own artificial intelligence to sense and understand its surroundings. It made real-time decisions about where to step, how to avoid obstacles, and how to stay on course toward its destination.

Passersby couldn't believe their eyes as the robot strolled past them. The humanoid even interacted with stunned witnesses through a digital face screen, winking and making expressions as curious crowds gathered. Cyclists did double takes and drivers slowed down to watch the unusual traveler pass by.

The journey wasn't without challenges. The robot's battery needed swapping 15 times during the trek, and the support team following behind took one 17-hour rest period. When heavy rain threatened to damage its systems, AgiBot A2 paused for seven minutes until conditions improved.

Engineers prepared extensively for this attempt, putting the robot through hundreds of hours of testing. In August, it completed a successful 24-hour test walk in scorching 40-degree Celsius heat, proving it could handle extreme conditions.

The Ripple Effect

This achievement shows how far robotics has come in solving one of the field's hardest problems: making machines that can walk reliably over long distances in unpredictable environments. While many robots can perform specific tasks in controlled settings, navigating the real world for days requires advanced balance, decision-making, and adaptability.

The success opens doors for humanoid robots to eventually help in disaster zones, deliver supplies across difficult terrain, or assist in situations too dangerous for humans. When AgiBot A2 reached the Bund, it pointed across the river at Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower to signal its arrival, then waved and posed for photos with the excited crowd that had gathered.

This robot just proved that science fiction is becoming everyday reality, one step at a time.