Beijing: Chinese robot Lightning runs 100m sprint faster than Usain Bolt’s record
Robot Lightning Sets New Benchmarks
A humanoid robot named Lightning has reportedly completed the 100m sprint in 9.32 seconds, surpassing the human world record. This achievement was reported by China’s state broadcaster. Developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, Lightning reached a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second during a test event for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which commenced on Saturday.
This performance exceeds the 9.58-second men’s 100m world record established by Usain Bolt at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin 17 years ago. The robot’s recent performance highlights advancements in robotics, a sector China is actively promoting as an emerging industry.
Lightning also secured a victory in the Beijing half marathon in April, finishing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This time was faster than the men’s world record for the event. At the half marathon, the robot measured 169cm in height with legs that were 95cm long. For the current Games, researchers have extended its legs by an additional 10cm.
World Humanoid Robot Games Showcase Progress
The second annual World Humanoid Robot Games are hosting over 2,000 humanoid robots across a five-day period. This event aims to showcase China’s rapid progress in advanced robotics amidst a technological competition with the US. The Games feature 51 events and more than 1,000 competitions, including disciplines such as running, table tennis, and football.
The competitions are being held at the National Speed Skating Oval, originally constructed for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The opening of the robot games coincided with Beijing hosting the 2026 World Robot Conference, where approximately 3,000 products, including humanoid robots, were displayed by various companies. China is noted as the primary producer of humanoid robots globally.
During the opening of the robot games on Saturday, organisers and robot manufacturers highlighted instances where Chinese humanoid robots have surpassed human world records. This was demonstrated as hundreds of humanoid robots marched in formation, showcasing synchronised coordination.
Other Notable Robotic Achievements
Beyond sprinting, another humanoid robot achieved a standing high jump of 2.88m. This significantly exceeds the previous best humanoid result of 0.95m from the inaugural games last year. Furthermore, this jump surpassed the human high jump record of 2.45m, set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor in 1993. Both of these high-jumping robots were developed by Beijing-based X-Humanoid.
The current robot games include participation from 16 countries, such as Germany, Japan, and the US. Additional events featured in the games include weightlifting and tug of war. Spectators at the event expressed excitement regarding the rapid improvements in humanoid robot capabilities.
One Beijing resident, Li Yanfeng, an education worker, noted the rapid evolution of humanoid robots. She initially harboured reservations about artificial intelligence due to concerns about human displacement but now views the development as unstoppable. Another spectator, Yang Shangzheng, found it remarkable that robots can now perform sports typically associated with humans. Liu Tao, attending with his son, expressed his hope to witness the best robotic innovations China has to offer.
Last month, the US Federal Communications Commission implemented a ban on imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns, a measure that targeted China. Additionally, the Pentagon recently added Unitree, a prominent Chinese humanoid robot manufacturer, to a list of companies believed to have connections with the Chinese military, accusations that Beijing has refuted.
Source: theguardian.com
