A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, has beaten the human world record for the 100-meter sprint. During the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Lightning completed the race in 9.32 seconds, surpassing the 9.58-second record set by Usain Bolt 17 years ago. The robot achieved a peak speed of 14.5 metres per second during the trial.
The five-day, Olympics-like event combines competitions modeled on human sports, including boxing, football, and martial arts, with tests in simulated environments such as factories, restaurants, offices, and emergency situations. While some machines stumbled, toppled, or failed to start, the robo-athletes drew cheers from hundreds of spectators.
Organizers noted that the robots competing have become twice as fast in a single year, highlighting the rapid pace of advancement in Chinese robotics. The games showcase China's growing dominance in the field and its progress in advanced robotics as the technology race with the U.S. heats up.