BEIJING, Aug 26 — A Chinese-developed humanoid robot set a new 100-meter sprint record of 8.64 seconds at the second World Humanoid Robot Games, becoming the first robot to surpass the fastest recorded human time of 9.58 seconds, set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009. The record was achieved by Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, during the large-size robot final on Aug 25.
The robot’s performance improved throughout the competition, running 9.39 seconds and 8.86 seconds in earlier qualifying heats before the final. The event, held at the Beijing National Speed Skating Oval, concluded on Aug 26 and featured over 2,000 robots from 666 teams, primarily Chinese, competing in 51 disciplines spanning sports, industrial tasks, and emergency simulations.
Advancements in Robot Mobility
Experts highlighted the significance of the achievement beyond raw speed. Dennis Hong, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, stated: “This is a significant milestone—not simply because the robot ran faster than a human, but because of what it takes to make a bipedal robot run at this speed.” He noted that as speed increases, challenges in balance, control, impacts, actuator performance, and mechanical robustness become exponentially more difficult.
Tiangong Ultra’s final run ended with the robot colliding into a padded barrier at the finish line, producing visible sparks from its waist. Despite the impact, the robot maintained its record-breaking time, underscoring both its speed and the physical demands of robotic athletics.
Diverse Challenges and Public Reception
While the sprint event showcased rapid advancements, other competitions revealed ongoing technical hurdles. Videos from the Games captured multiple instances of robots losing balance, crashing into obstacles, or malfunctioning during tasks such as weightlifting and stair-climbing. One notable incident involved a robot falling down stairs after being distracted by a cheerleading routine, while another collapsed onto a judges’ table during a weightlifting final.
Public reaction to the event was mixed. Some spectators, such as 34-year-old Niu, noted improvements in robot coordination compared to the inaugural Games, stating: “Last year’s robots looked a little stiff and uncoordinated. This year, they are much better. They are like healthy newborn babies growing up.” Others, like 29-year-old Yang, speculated about future integration of robots into daily life, suggesting: “Maybe there will be one at home and one at work,” potentially assisting with chores or elder care.
Industry Implications and Future Outlook
Developers framed the Games as a critical testing ground for embodied artificial intelligence (AI), which combines AI software with machines capable of perceiving and acting in the physical world. He Wang, founder and chief technology officer of Galbot, emphasized the event’s role in accelerating industry development: “It will provide a huge boost for industry development.”
The competition also served as a platform for China to showcase its advancements in robotics amid growing technological rivalry with the United States. The World Humanoid Robot Games, now in its second year, continues to expand its scope, blending athletic competition with practical applications in manufacturing, services, and emergency response.