Chinese Robot 'Lightning' Smashes Usain Bolt's 100m World Record

A Chinese humanoid robot has shattered the 100-meter world record, clocking in at an astonishing 9.32 seconds. The robot, named Lightning, finished the practice race significantly faster than Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who set the previous human record of 9.58 seconds in 2009.

This remarkable achievement, reported by Chinese media, occurred during preparations for the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The event showcases advancements from technology companies and university groups, highlighting the rapid progress in artificial intelligence. Just last year, top humanoid robots struggled to complete such races, making Lightning's performance a major marker of development.

Lightning, developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor, has demonstrated a range of impressive capabilities. Earlier in April, the robot won the Beijing half-marathon, covering 21 kilometers in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This time is considerably faster than the human world record holder, Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who completed the distance in 57 minutes and 20 seconds.

For the half-marathon, Lightning stood 169 centimeters tall with 95-centimeter legs. Ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games, its legs were extended by 10 cm to 1.05 meters, a modification that would be difficult for human competitors to replicate. The robot's dual success in sprinting and long-distance running underscores the accelerating pace of innovation in robotics.