'Lightning' the Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt's 100m world record

Robotic competitor "Lightning", a creation of Chinese smartphone giant Honor, has shattered the 100-meter world record previously held by renowned sprinter Usain Bolt. During a preparatory test event for the World Humanoid Robot Games, which conclude on August 26, the pint-sized robot completed a 100-meter sprint in just 9.32 seconds, outpacing Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds.

The robot, standing at 169 centimeters tall with 95-centimeter legs, reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during the race. The World Humanoid Robot Games, running from August 22 to 26, mark the second edition of China's annual robot games, which have been occurring for the past decade. This year's event adds a focus on robotic hands, judging them on their speed and precision in tasks like tightening screws, opening bottles, and picking up small beads with tweezers.

The shift in focus reflects the growing challenge for robot developers to demonstrate practical applications of their creations. China's robot games, once a fringe event organized by academics and hobbyists, have evolved into a national spectacle celebrated by state media and a proving ground for commercial products. President Xi Jinping has singled out humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and companies believing advances in AI and hardware will lead to their wider deployment in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer applications.