A robot sprinter shatters a 100-meter record again as sparks fly at China’s robot competition

At China's second annual World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, a robot sprinter set a new 100-meter record of 8.64 seconds on Wednesday, breaking its own record from the previous day. Over 2,000 humanoid robots participated in various Olympic-style events, including running, soccer, and boxing, as well as real-world tasks. The winning robot model, Tiangong Ultra, developed by X-Humanoid, achieved all three 100-meter records set during the games. Despite the impressive speed, several robots crashed into barriers at the finish line, with some experiencing sparks and requiring fire extinguishers. The event showcased China's advancements in robotics.

A Chinese humanoid robot set a new 100-meter sprint record of 8.86 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. This time surpassed both its robot competitors and the fastest recorded human time of 9.58 seconds. The event, in its second year, showcases China's advancements in robotics amidst technological rivalry with the U.S. The record-breaking robot fell after crossing the finish line. The Games feature over 2,000 robots in 51 events, including athletic competitions and real-world scenarios like household tasks and emergency response.

The Chinese robot Tiangong Ultra achieved a new 100-meter sprint record of 8.86 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. This time is more than seven-tenths of a second faster than Usain Bolt's men's human world record of 9.58 seconds. Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, set this new mark in the semifinal of the large-size robot division, improving on its previous record of 9.39 seconds at the same event. The rapid advancement of robots in speed events has been a significant attraction at the games, which feature over 2,000 robots competing in various challenges.

Humanoid robots demonstrated their capabilities at the World Humanoid Robot Games, including participating in what was described as the world's first human-robot tennis match. Developed by Beijing-based Galbot, one robot engaged in rallies with human players, executing forehands and backhands. During a match, the robot lost its balance and fell but was able to recover and continue playing. The article also mentions robots smashing track records, though specific details about this aspect are not provided in the excerpt.

At the World Robot Conference in Beijing, humanoid robots drew crowds with impressive demonstrations like table tennis and fighting. However, the industry is increasingly focusing on practical deployment, with wheeled robots and those featuring conventional robotic arms gaining momentum. Companies like X Square Robot question the necessity of bipedal designs for industrial applications, emphasizing factors such as payload and reliability. X Square Robot's WALL-B model, for instance, demonstrated efficiency in sorting packages, outperforming a bipedal competitor in a controlled test. AI2 Robotics also showcased a wheeled robot capable of making coffee and ice cream, highlighting the versatility of different end effectors for various tasks.

At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on August 22, 2026, Chinese humanoid robots set new records, surpassing human achievements in the 100-meter sprint and high jump. Over 2,000 robots participated in the five-day event, showcasing China's advancements in robotics amidst a technology race with the U.S. A robot ran the 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's record, and achieved a standing high jump of 2.88 meters, exceeding the human record. These games are part of a broader push by China to demonstrate its robotics capabilities, occurring alongside the World Robot Conference. The U.S. has recently increased scrutiny on Chinese robots, citing national security concerns. Despite these impressive demonstrations, experts note that widespread real-world deployment of humanoid robots is still some time away.

A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor, has reportedly broken Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record. The robot completed the distance in 9.32 seconds, surpassing Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds, during a test event for the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. Lightning achieved a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second. This development aligns with China's strategic promotion of humanoid robots in various industries. The robot had previously won the Beijing half marathon in April, and its leg length was increased prior to the robot games.