Beijing, 23 August – A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor has reportedly set a new record for the fastest 100-metre run by a humanoid robot, completing the distance in 9.32 seconds during a trial in Beijing.
The robot, named “Lightning,” reached a top speed of around 14.5 metres per second during a preparatory trial ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which began in Beijing on Saturday.
According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, Lightning’s 9.32-second run was faster than Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second world record, set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
China has been heavily promoting humanoid robotics as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and technology companies investing in advances combining artificial intelligence and robotics hardware. The developments are expected to accelerate the use of robots in manufacturing, logistics and consumer applications.
Lightning had already attracted attention earlier this year after winning a 21-kilometre Beijing half-marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds in April. At that time, the robot stood 169 centimetres tall and had legs measuring 95 centimetres.
Ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games, researchers extended its leg length by 10 centimetres to 1.05 metres, potentially improving its running performance.
The latest record highlights China’s rapid progress in humanoid robotics, although comparisons between robotic and human athletic records remain fundamentally different because of differences in design, mechanics and operating conditions.
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