After Outrunning Humans, Why Do Robots Still Need to 'Train' on Mount Tai

On November 2, 2026, a robotics competition was held on Mount Tai in Jinan, China, where legged and humanoid robots faced extreme challenges including uneven stone steps, steep slopes, and carrying heavy loads. While some robots achieved speeds significantly faster than humans on flat tracks, the mountain terrain exposed limitations in balance control, navigation, and autonomy, requiring human assistance during parts of the race. The event serves as a practical testbed for advancing robot hardware, algorithms, and real-world application readiness in complex environments.