World Humanoid Robot Games Sets New Speed Record
The inaugural day of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing saw a significant milestone, as the fastest man record was broken. Usain Bolt’s previous record of 9.58 seconds for the 100 meters, set in 2009, was surpassed by a robot called Lightning Bolt, which clocked in at 9.39 seconds before it collided with a blue wall.
Interestingly, before the official opening, a robot developed by the Chinese smartphone company Honor had already sprinted 100 meters in a remarkable 9.32 seconds during a trial, reaching a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second.
Unlike Bolt, who celebrated his achievement with a lap around the track, the robots required a stretcher after their crashes.
Robots Outperform Humans in Half Marathon
The World Humanoid Robot Games, now in its second edition, features over 2,000 robots competing across 51 events, including running, table tennis, and soccer. This five-day event showcases China’s advancements in robotics amid ongoing competition with the U.S.
This year’s games are being held at the National Speed Skating Oval, which was constructed for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Notably, this opening coincided with the 2026 World Robot Conference in Beijing, where around 3,000 robotic products were on display.
Track Records Shattered
In another impressive feat, a robot achieved a standing high jump of 2.88 meters, exceeding last year’s humanoid record of 0.95 meters and even surpassing the human high jump record of 2.45 meters set by Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor back in 1993.
Some attendees expressed their enthusiasm about the rapid development of humanoid robotics. A Beijing resident, Li Yanfeng, remarked on the fast-paced evolution of these machines, noting her initial hesitation towards artificial intelligence due to its potential to replace humans. Yet, witnessing these advancements firsthand has encouraged her to embrace this change.
Yang Shangzheng, another spectator, found it incredible that robots could now perform tasks traditionally meant for humans.
Robotic Competitions Galore
Liu Tao, attending the games with his son, was eager to see “the best robots China currently has.” This year’s event features 16 participating countries, including Germany, Japan, and the U.S., and includes various competitions from weightlifting to tug of war.
As for the ongoing scrutiny from the U.S. on Chinese robots, the U.S. has become more vigilant, particularly around humanoids, which are mostly produced in China. The Federal Communications Commission has moved to ban imports of certain foreign-made humanoid robots, labeling them as potential threats to national security.
This decision has been supported by FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who reassured that measures are being taken to protect America’s critical supply chains.
