Chinese humanoid robots beat Bolt's 100m record at Beijing games

At the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Chinese humanoid robots shattered the human 100-meter world record, with the Tiangong Ultra finishing in 8.64 seconds on the final day, nearly a second faster than Usain Bolt's 9.58-second mark Source: AP News. The event, held August 22–26, featured over 2,000 robots from 666 teams competing in 51 events, including sports and practical tasks Source: CNA.

Records and falls

Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, improved from 9.39 seconds on the opening day to 8.86 seconds in the semifinal, then 8.64 seconds in the final Source: CNA. Honor's Lightning also ran under Bolt's record at 9.47 seconds Source: The Verge. However, the sprinters often crashed into padded barriers after the finish line, with some catching fire and requiring stretchers Source: Ars Technica.

Beyond sprinting

Robots also competed in practical scenarios like housework and emergency response, but dexterous tasks such as picking up beans with tweezers proved challenging Source: Gizmodo. Galbot claimed its robot completed 100 consecutive tennis rallies against former pro Zheng Jie, though the claim relies on the company's own account Source: The Next Web.

Skepticism and context

Roboticists caution that sprinting on a known course is easier than folding laundry, and some call the races "publicity stunts" Source: The Next Web. The event underscores China's robotics dominance, but U.S. import bans may limit access Source: Foreign Policy.