A Chinese humanoid robot has clocked a remarkable 9.39 seconds over 100 metres at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, beating the 9.58-second world record set by Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt in 2009.
Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, won its preliminary heat on Saturday, the opening day of the second edition of the games.
The race produced an unusual finish as Tiangong Ultra trailed early before overtaking Honor’s Lightning near the end of the race.
Lightning completed the race in 9.47 seconds, also faster than Bolt’s record.
Neither machine, however, made it through the finish in the style of a human sprinter.
Tiangong Ultra stumbled and veered toward the sidelines, forcing spectators to move out of its path. Lightning collapsed shortly afterward and was carried away on a stretcher.
Despite the chaotic finish, the performances represented a significant improvement from last year. Tiangong Ultra won the inaugural 100-metre race in 21.50 seconds.
Lightning had previously recorded an even faster time in a test run. Chinese state media reported that the robot completed 100 metres in 9.32 seconds and reached a top speed of 14.5 metres per second.
The robot also won the humanoid half-marathon in Beijing earlier this year, finishing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Its legs were later lengthened from 95 centimetres to 1.05 metres ahead of the games, according to Chinese broadcaster CCTV.
The 100-metre event is one of 51 competitions being held at this year’s games, which include football, dancing and industrial-task challenges.
China has identified humanoid robotics as a strategic emerging industry, with companies and policymakers looking to expand the use of the machines in manufacturing, logistics and consumer applications.
Investor interest in the sector has also surged. Unitree, one of China’s leading humanoid robot makers, saw its shares rise more than fivefold during its Shanghai trading debut earlier this week, pushing its market value to about $50 billion.
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This year’s competition has attracted 2,056 robots from 666 teams representing 16 countries across six continents, a sharp increase from the 280 teams that took part in the inaugural event.
The games are being held at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval and will run through Wednesday.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
