Chinese humanoid robot reportedly beats Usain Bolt’s 100m record

A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning has reportedly completed the 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds, surpassing the previous world record of 9.58 seconds set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. According to Al Jazeera English, the robot's performance was reported by CCTV, China's state broadcaster, during a preparatory test for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.

Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during the event, which occurred ahead of the humanoid robot games. This achievement outpaces Bolt's record, which was set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. China has been actively promoting humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with companies and policymakers exploring their applications in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors.

Lightning has also showcased endurance, winning a 21-kilometer half-marathon in Beijing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a pace faster than the men's human world record. Standing at 1.69 meters tall, the robot initially had legs measuring 95 centimeters but had them lengthened to 1.05 meters before the humanoid robot games. However, it is important to note that this 9.32-second performance does not qualify as an official human athletics record, as the robot competed under conditions distinct from those governed by World Athletics rules. This development underscores the rapid progress being made in humanoid robotics in China.