Chinese robots outrun Usain Bolt in 100m sprint

China's advancements in robotics were showcased at the World Humanoid Robot Games, where a humanoid robot shattered Usain Bolt's iconic 100-meter sprint record. The robot, developed by the Chinese team X-Humanoid, completed the race in an astonishing 9.39 seconds, surpassing Bolt's previous record of 9.58 seconds. Following its record-breaking run, the robot dramatically collided with a safety barrier.

This achievement follows earlier reports of a robot named 'Lightning,' created by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor, achieving an even faster time of 9.32 seconds for the 100m sprint. Honor's 'Lightning' robot also demonstrated remarkable endurance by setting a new half-marathon record, covering approximately 21 kilometers in 50 minutes and 26 seconds.

The World Humanoid Robot Games, now in its second edition, features over 660 teams and 2000 robots from 16 countries competing in diverse disciplines. These include traditional sports like long jump and weightlifting, team games such as table tennis and football, and practical applications like household chores, rescue missions, and assembly line tasks. China's government has identified embodied artificial intelligence as a key future industry, driving significant investment from companies and universities into humanoid robot research and development. Several robotics firms are pursuing stock market listings to secure capital for further innovation, with some, like Unitree, experiencing spectacular IPOs.