DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Technology

Chinese robots break Usain Bolt's 100-meter record at Beijing World Humanoid Robot Games

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Two robots at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing have broken Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record.
  • The robots achieved times faster than Bolt's 9.58 seconds, a significant improvement from previous years.
  • The games feature both sports competitions and scenario-based tests for robots in simulated real-world environments.

Robots have shattered Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, showcasing remarkable advancements in humanoid robotics. Two machines clocked times faster than Bolt's legendary 9.58 seconds, marking a dramatic leap from the previous year when the winning robot took over 20 seconds.

The intensity is higher than last year, which places significant demands on the robot's battery management and thermal dissipation capabilities.

— Xu QiaoshengA spectator and robotics investor commenting on the advancements seen at the games.

Beyond the sprint, another humanoid robot, of the same model as the 100-meter champion, completed the 400-meter race in 39.7 seconds, surpassing Wayde van Niekerk's world record of 43.03 seconds. These athletic feats are part of the five-day World Humanoid Robot Games, which commenced Saturday and include 51 events.

The games blend traditional human sports with challenges designed to test robots in simulated environments like factories, restaurants, and offices, as well as emergency situations. Over 40% of the events require full autonomous operation, according to tech partner Huawei. Spectators and investors like Xu Qiaosheng noted the "higher intensity" this year, demanding advanced battery and thermal management from the robots, and highlighting the "huge significance for the development of China's industrial sector."

It holds huge significance for the development of China's industrial sector.

— Xu QiaoshengHighlighting the broader implications of the robot games for China's industry.

While sports competitions like tug-of-war and weightlifting are featured, along with futuristic twists on traditional Chinese sports like Tai Chi, the more revealing tests involve robots navigating real-world imperfections. These scenarios assess a robot's ability to identify objects, precisely position limbs, apply controlled force, and recover from errors without human intervention. Lumos Robotics CEO Yu Chao emphasized that the ultimate value lies in "real-world problem solving," not just athletic performance, stating, "Only when it can work in those end scenarios does it have real value."

Only when it can work in those end scenarios does it have real value. Simply running and jumping does not improve efficiency.

— Yu ChaoChief Executive of Lumos Robotics, emphasizing the importance of real-world application over pure performance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog