Chinese robots beat Usain Bolt's 100m world record at Beijing Games

BEIJING - A Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra completed a 100-meter race in 9.39 seconds during the opening heat of the second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games, surpassing the world record held by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, the robot fell behind early in the race but managed to overtake its competitor, Honor's Lightning, near the end.

Tiangong stumbled and crashed into a mat, requiring assistance to finish the race. Lightning, also created by a Chinese company, was carried away on a stretcher after collapsing during the same preliminary heat. The robot's performance marked a significant improvement from last year's inaugural games, where Tiangong Ultra finished the 100 meters in 21.50 seconds.

Chinese state media reported that Lightning had initially run 100 meters in 9.32 seconds in a preparatory test, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second. The humanoid robot half-marathon, held last year in Beijing, was won by Tiangong Ultra. Among the 51 events at the games, the 100 meters is just one of many, including football, dancing, and industrial-task contests.

China views humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and companies investing heavily in AI and hardware advancements to expand their applications in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors. The games, held at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, saw participation from 2,056 robots representing 666 teams from 16 countries and six continents, an increase from the 280 teams that competed in the inaugural event.