Chinese Humanoid Robot Lightning Breaks Usain Bolt's 100-Meter Record with 9.32 Seconds

A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Honor, has reportedly completed a 100-meter sprint in 9.32 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's previous world record of 9.58 seconds set in 2009. This achievement occurred during a test event in Beijing ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games (WHRG), which is expected to see a 138 percent increase in participation compared to last year.

The significance of Lightning's performance lies in the advancements in speed, balance, and autonomous movement in humanoid robotics, reflecting the growing capabilities of Chinese companies in this field. Lightning reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second, showcasing its specialized design for high-performance running, which includes features such as long-stride biomechanics and a liquid-cooling system.

Looking ahead, the WHRG will feature various robots competing in multiple sporting events, with another Chinese robot, Tiangong Ultra, also clocking a time faster than Bolt's record at 9.39 seconds. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.