A Chinese humanoid robot shattered the world record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt during the 100-meter race at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The robot, named Tiangong Ultra, completed the distance in 9.39 seconds, nearly 0.2 seconds faster than Bolt’s 2009 world record of 9.58 seconds. The event took place on Saturday at the opening ceremony of the competition, which brought together over 2,000 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries. The performance marked a significant milestone in the advancement of humanoid robotics and highlighted China's growing influence in this technological field. The race was part of the inaugural day of the World Humanoid Robot Games, held in Beijing. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Center for Humanoid Robotics Innovation, edged out another Chinese competitor, Lightning, which was created by the smartphone manufacturer Honor. Lightning finished the race in 9.47 seconds, falling just short of Tiangong Ultra’s time. The victory underscored the rapid progress being made in robotic technology, particularly in speed and agility. Tiangong Ultra’s achievement was not its first. Earlier in the week, during preliminary tests, the robot had clocked a time of 9.32 seconds and reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second, according to reports from state media. This demonstrated a consistent improvement in performance compared to previous iterations of the model. In contrast, Lightning, standing at 1.69 meters tall with legs measuring 95 centimeters, had previously won the human-sized marathon in April, completing the 21.0975-kilometer race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, a time better than the men’s world record for the distance. For the Beijing competition, Lightning’s legs were extended to 1.05 meters, allowing for greater stride length and potentially higher speeds. However, despite these modifications, Lightning could not match Tiangong Ultra’s performance in the 100-meter race. The difference in times emphasized the gap between the two models, even though both represent cutting-edge developments in humanoid robotics. The World Humanoid Robot Games featured 51 different competitions, ranging from athletic challenges to industrial tasks, providing a comprehensive showcase of the latest advancements in the field. Organizers described Tiangong Ultra’s feat as one of the standout moments of the event, reflecting the increasing capabilities of humanoid robots in mimicking human physical attributes and performance levels. China has been making strides in the development of humanoid robots, with companies such as Unitree experiencing substantial growth. Unitree recently saw its stock rise by 600 percent upon its debut on the stock market, signaling investor confidence in the sector. This surge aligns with broader national efforts to position China as a global leader in robotics and artificial intelligence. The success of Tiangong Ultra comes amid a backdrop of intense competition and innovation in the field of robotics. As nations around the world invest heavily in research and development, the ability of machines to perform complex and physically demanding tasks continues to evolve rapidly. The Beijing event serves as a microcosm of this global trend, showcasing how far humanoid robots have come in terms of speed, precision, and overall functionality. The performance of Tiangong Ultra has sparked discussions about the future of robotics in both sports and industry. While some view the achievements as a testament to human ingenuity and technological progress, others raise questions about the implications of such advancements. Regardless, the event has undeniably placed China at the forefront of the humanoid robotics revolution.
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.
Become a Supporter
