Chinese Humanoid Robot Smashes Usain Bolt's 100m Sprint Record

A humanoid robot has shattered Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint world record at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing. The robot, developed by the Beijing-based company X-Humanoid, completed the 109-yard (approximately 100-meter) dash in an astonishing 9.39 seconds on Saturday, beating the previous record of 9.58 seconds set by the Jamaican sprinter in 2009.

Footage from the event showed the robots colliding with a cushion and falling to the ground to stop at the end of the race, with some requiring stretchers to be carried off. This display of robotic athleticism occurred on the opening day of the games, which organizers describe as an "Olympics-like event" featuring over 2,000 humanoid robots.

In addition to the sprint record, a separate robot from X-Humanoid achieved a new world record in the standing high jump. It reached a height of 2.88 meters, surpassing the previous record of 2.45 meters set by Cuba's Javier Sotomayor in 1993. These achievements showcase China's rapid progress in advanced robotics.

However, not all robots performed flawlessly. Some encountered difficulties during competitions, tripping, falling, smashing into pieces, or even catching fire. The World Humanoid Robot Games, now in its second year, includes various sports like running, table tennis, and soccer, aiming to demonstrate the capabilities of humanoid robots.

The records set come amidst geopolitical tensions surrounding advanced robotics. Last month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, citing national security concerns and targeting China. The Pentagon also recently added Unitree, a leading Chinese humanoid robot maker, to a list of companies with alleged ties to the Chinese military. Beijing has refuted these accusations, asserting its leadership in humanoid robot production, with manufacturers reporting thousands of orders. Despite these advancements, experts suggest the technology is still largely used for demonstrations and may take time for widespread real-world deployment.