{ "id": 2936875, "title": "Robot runs 100 meter in less than 10 sec; faster than any men's world record", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/robot-runs-100-meter-in-less-than-10-sec-faster-than-any-mens-world", "topic": "tech", "section": "Tech", "published": "2026-08-24T03:21:40.000Z", "source": { "name": "Times of India", "slug": "times-of-india", "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/meet-the-humanoid-robot-winning-hearts-in-china-after-running-100-meter-in-less-than-10-seconds-faster-than-any-mens-world-record/articleshow/133450217.cms" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "A Chinese humanoid robot named Tiangong Ultra has made headlines after sprinting 100 metres in 9.39 seconds, a feat that eclipses Usain Bolt’s men’s world record of 9.58 seconds, according to Reuters. Manufactured by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong Ultra claimed victory in the preliminary heat of the second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, leaving its rival robot Lightning behind by a whisker. Lightning, built by smartphone giant Honor, crossed the finish line 0.06 seconds later, clocking 9.47 seconds.\n\nBoth robots outpaced Bolt’s record set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin. During preliminary tests, Lightning achieved a top speed of 14.5 metres per second, while Tiangong's performance was slightly slower, finishing the race with a stumble and even collapsing, requiring medical attention.\n\nThe results from this year’s event represent a significant leap forward from the inaugural games held last year, when Tiangong Ultra clocked 21.50 seconds for the 100 metres. Additionally, Tiangong made history by winning the world’s first humanoid half-marathon in Beijing in 2025. Meanwhile, Lightning secured the half-marathon title this year, finishing the 13.1-mile race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a pace faster than elite human runners.\n\nThe 100m sprint is just one of 51 events at the games, which also include football, dancing, and industrial-task challenges. The Chinese government has identified humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, foreseeing rapid advancements in AI and hardware driving their integration into manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors. This strategic focus is reflected in investor enthusiasm, with shares of Unitree, a leading Chinese humanoid robot maker, soaring over fivefold following their debut on the Shanghai stock market this week, valuing the company at approximately $50 billion.\n\nThis year’s World Humanoid Robot Games, held at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval, saw participation from a record 2,056 robots representing 666 teams from 16 countries and six continents, a substantial increase from the 280 teams that took part last year.", "summary": "Chinese robot Tiangong Ultra achieved a 100-meter sprint record of 9.39 seconds. Rival robot Lightning also surpassed Usain Bolt's previous world record time. These robots demonstrated rapid progress since last year's inaugural games. China designates humanoid robots as a strategic industry for future applications. Global participation in the robot games has significantly increased this year.", "key_points": [], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 11, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "France 24", "title": "Humanoid robots break human records at World Robot Games in Beijing", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/humanoid-robots-break-human-records-at-world-robot-games-in-beijing", "published": "2026-08-23T11:45:17.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today", "title": "Humanoids break records at Beijing Robot Games", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/humanoids-break-records-at-beijing-robot-games", "published": "2026-08-23T12:07:44.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Live Mint", "title": "Chinese humanoid robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record — but with a chaotic finish | Video", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/chinese-humanoid-robot-beats-usain-bolts-100m-world-record-but-with-a", "published": "2026-08-23T12:45:54.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Gulf News", "title": "Humanoid robots outpace human records at World Robot Games in Beijing", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/humanoid-robots-outpace-human-records-at-world-robot-games-in-beijing", "published": "2026-08-23T13:31:52.000Z" }, { "outlet": "ABC News (US)", "title": "WATCH: World Humanoid Robot Games open in Beijing", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/watch-world-humanoid-robot-games-open-in-beijing", "published": "2026-08-23T15:35:20.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Techmeme", "title": "At Beijing's World Humanoid Robot Games, a robot made by Honor ran 100m in 9.39s, and another Chinese robot finished 400m in 38.16s, both beating human records (Telegraph)", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/at-beijings-world-humanoid-robot-games-a-robot-made-by-honor-ran-100m", "published": "2026-08-24T03:10:00.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald", "title": "Thrills and spills at China's World Robot Games", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/thrills-and-spills-at-chinas-world-robot-games", "published": "2026-08-24T06:13:30.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The Age", "title": "Thrills and spills at China's World Robot Games", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/thrills-and-spills-at-chinas-world-robot-games-2961364", "published": "2026-08-24T06:13:30.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Free Press Journal", "title": "World Humanoid Robot Games: What The Event Is, Why It Matters, & Which Robots Are Winning", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/world-humanoid-robot-games-what-the-event-is-why-it-matters-which", "published": "2026-08-24T06:34:33.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Punch", "title": "VIDEO: Humanoid robot mimics Ronaldo’s iconic ‘siuuu’ celebration", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/video-humanoid-robot-mimics-ronaldos-iconic-siuuu-celebration", "published": "2026-08-24T09:32:16.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }