Robot Sprinter Smashes Record at China's Humanoid Robot Games

A robot sprinter shattered a 100-meter record on Wednesday at China’s World Humanoid Robot Games, an event showcasing the nation’s advancements in robotics.

The competition concluded its second year in Beijing with more than 2,000 humanoid robots participating in various Olympic-style events, including soccer, boxing, and running.

The winning robot completed the 100-meter dash in 8.64 seconds, marking a second consecutive day of record-breaking performances. Previously, a robot ran the distance in 8.86 seconds on Tuesday, following another robot’s 9.39-second performance earlier in the week. These times were all set during the Games.

For context, the men's 100-meter world record is 9.58 seconds, achieved by Usain Bolt in 2009.

Several robot runners, including the record-holder, collided with a padded barrier after crossing the finish line. Sparks emanated from some of the robots, prompting staff to respond with fire extinguishers. Most of the fallen robot runners were carried off the course on stretchers.

Experts noted the significant progress made by humanoid robots in controlled environments like running tracks, but emphasized that navigating the complexities of the real world presents a greater challenge. "True progress will be measured in warehouses and factories where humanoids do work autonomously for hours and generate real economic value," said Jonathan Hurst, a professor of robotics at Oregon State University.

Robots at the games also competed in tasks simulating real-world applications, such as housework, hotel services, and emergency response.

All three records during the event were set by the same humanoid robot model, the Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Innovation Center of Humanoid Robotics, also known as X-Humanoid. The company was founded in Beijing in 2023.