Humanoid Robots Outrun Usain Bolt in 100-Meter Dash Despite Post-Race Challenges

At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, two humanoid robots set impressive records by completing the 100-meter dash faster than Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds. The Tiangong Ultra robot achieved a time of 9.39 seconds, surpassing Honor’s Lightning robot with a 9.47-second finish. While these results highlight significant advancements in robotics, the robots faced practical limitations after their sprints, such as requiring human assistance to be stretchered off the course. This marks a major improvement from last year’s inaugural event, where Tiangong Ultra completed the race in 21.5 seconds. Additionally, Beijing hosted a humanoid robot half-marathon, with Honor’s Lightning finishing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds—a pace that also beat another human world record. The competition, running until August 26, features not only track events but also soccer, table tennis, and boxing, showcasing the growing scope of robotics in competitive arenas.