Humanoid robots have officially surpassed human speed records, though stopping safely remains a major hurdle.
At the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, Chinese humanoid robots shattered Usain Bolt’s iconic 9.58-second 100-meter record during preliminary heats. The winner, Tiangong Ultra, finished in 9.39 seconds, while runner-up Lightning clocked 9.47 seconds.
However, several "maybe" details and asterisks lie behind the headline numbers:
- Unverified Speed Record: State media reported that Lightning hit an even faster 9.32 seconds in a pre-game test run. Because this occurred outside official race conditions, it remains unverified as a formal record.
- Violent Finish Line Landings: Neither robot had a controlled finish. Both slammed directly into protective crash mats—Tiangong Ultra stumbled wildly toward the crowd, while Lightning collapsed entirely and had to be carried off on a stretcher.
- Custom Hardware Modifications: Ahead of the sprint, engineers extended Lightning's legs by 10 centimeters, raising questions about how specialized these modifications were for short-burst speed versus practical use.
Rapid Upgrades
The jump in performance is staggering considering Tiangong Ultra won last year's inaugural sprint in a sluggish 21.50 seconds. While engineering teams are closing the gap on athletic limits faster than anticipated, teaching these machines to brake safely is clearly the next major challenge.
Source: Reuters
