They were trailing behind their human rivals a year ago. But on Sunday, an android outpaced the entire field to run a half-marathon faster than even the quickest human.

More than 100 humanoid robot teams and 12,000 human runners took part in the world's second half-marathon for androids in Beijing, with multiple robots finishing the 21-kilometer race in less than one hour.

THIS is the shocking moment a marathon-running robot smashed into pieces after tripping – before being dramatically carried away on a stretcher by a medical crew. The mechanical runner

Experts generally agree that before humanoid robots can be widely deployed, they must first attend “vocational schools” to develop a functioning “brain”. Engineers describe humanoid robots as having three layers: a “brain” for perception and decision-making; a “cerebellum” for motion coordination; and a “body” equipped with motors and sensors.