Tiangong Ultra, a humanoid robot developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre, made headlines in Beijing on Saturday by completing a 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds. This remarkable feat occurred during the preliminary heats of the World Humanoid Robot Games, faster than the 9.58-second world record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009, though not officially surpassing it.
The event, held at Beijing's National Speed Skating Oval, saw Tiangong Ultra outpace its competitor, Lightning, a robot developed by smartphone maker Honor. Despite falling behind early in the race, Tiangong Ultra surged ahead near the finish line, leaving Lightning to clock in at 9.47 seconds, also faster than Bolt's record. However, the race ended chaotically as both robots collided with a safety mat designed to halt their momentum, with Tiangong veering off-course and Lightning collapsing to the ground.
This year's competition marks a significant improvement from the inaugural games, where Tiangong Ultra completed the 100-meter race in 21.50 seconds. The robot also claimed victory in the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon held in Beijing last year. Earlier on Saturday, Chinese state media reported that Lightning had achieved a 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds during a preparatory test, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second.
Lightning also excelled in this year's humanoid half-marathon, finishing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. The robot, initially standing 169 centimeters tall with 95-centimeter legs, had its legs extended by 10 centimeters to 1.05 meters for the games, which feature events like football, dancing, and industrial-task contests.
China's Strategic Focus on Humanoid Robots
China has identified humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and companies investing in advancements in AI and hardware to enhance their applications in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors. This enthusiasm was evident earlier in the week when shares of Unitree, a prominent Chinese humanoid robot maker, surged more than fivefold during its Shanghai trading debut, reaching a market value of approximately $50 billion (R801.26 billion).
The World Humanoid Robot Games have seen substantial growth, with 2,056 robots from 666 teams across 16 countries and six continents participating this year, a significant increase from the 280 teams at the inaugural event. The games are scheduled to continue until Wednesday.
