A Chinese humanoid robot ran the 100-meter dash faster than Usain Bolt’s human world record during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing [1], [2].
The achievement highlights China's rapid advancements in robotics and its ongoing technological competition with the U.S. [5]. While human athletes are bound by biological limits, the integration of advanced actuators and AI allows humanoid machines to push beyond those thresholds.
Reports on the robot's performance vary across different test runs. On Aug. 22, 2024, the robot was reported to have completed the sprint in 9.32 seconds [7] or 9.39 seconds [4]. Both times surpassed the established human world record of 9.58 seconds [1].
Further tests conducted on Aug. 26, 2024, showed even greater speeds. Some reports said the robot clocked a time of 8.64 seconds [1], while other sources listed the time as 8.86 seconds [2]. This latest performance is nearly one second faster than the record held by Bolt [1].
Identification of the machine has been inconsistent across reports. It has been referred to as Tian Jiao, Tiangong Ultra, or Lightning Bolt, while other reports describe it as an unnamed robot developed by Honor [1], [2], [3], [5].
Despite the speed, the demonstrations were not without failure. Some reports said the robots crashed into a wall after completing the sprint [2]. These incidents underscore the remaining challenges in balancing high-velocity movement with stability, and environmental awareness.
“A Chinese humanoid robot ran the 100-meter dash faster than Usain Bolt’s human world record.”
The ability of a humanoid robot to outperform the fastest human in history marks a shift from robots as tools for precision to robots as platforms for extreme physical performance. However, the reported crashes indicate that while raw speed is achievable, the sensory feedback and braking systems required for safe, real-world navigation are still lagging behind the motor capabilities.
