Chinese Humanoid Robots Surpass Usain Bolt's 100m World Record

Record-Breaking Sprint Times

During the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, multiple Chinese humanoid robots recorded 100-meter sprint times that surpass the world record held by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds was established at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

A robot named "Lightning," developed by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, completed a 100-meter test run in 9.32 seconds. This time is 0.26 seconds faster than Bolt's record. According to reports from China's state broadcaster, Lightning reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during this preparatory test event.

Additionally, a robot named "Tiangong Ultra" (also referred to as "Tianzhuo"), developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, recorded a time of 9.39 seconds in a preliminary heat. In that specific race, Tiangong Ultra outpaced two other Chinese-made robots to win the heat. Reports indicate that Tiangong Ultra overtook Honor's Lightning near the finish line after trailing early in the race; Lightning finished that particular heat in 9.47 seconds.

The World Humanoid Robot Games

The events took place during the second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games, which opened in Beijing on Saturday. The competition serves as a venue for university groups and technology companies—primarily those based in China—to demonstrate the capabilities and tasks their robots can perform.

Preparations for the event included the deployment of humanoid robots from various developers, including Booster Robotics, whose machines were seen being prepared by staff before the opening ceremony. The games are described as a unique sporting event focused on the intersection of technology and physical performance.

Technical Context

The performance of the Lightning robot, specifically its 9.32-second run, has been cited as a marker of progress in the field of artificial intelligence. The robot's ability to maintain a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second allowed it to cross the finish line significantly faster than the human world record.

While the 9.32-second mark was achieved during a preparatory test, the subsequent preliminary heats saw the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center's Tiangong Ultra take the lead with a 9.39-second finish.

Event Schedule

The World Humanoid Robot Games are scheduled to continue running through August 26.