BEIJING | A Chinese humanoid robot has set a new 100-meter sprint record of 8.86 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, beating the previous robot mark and the 9.58-second human world record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt in 2009.
The robot, Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, achieved the time in the large-size division semifinals on Tuesday. It had already broken the robot record just days earlier with a time of 9.39 seconds. The machine fell after crossing the finish line, highlighting the continuing challenge of maintaining stability and control at high speeds.
The sprint record was later improved again in the competition’s final, with Tiangong Ultra reportedly clocking 8.64 seconds, according to Chinese state media.
The second World Humanoid Robot Games, held from Aug. 22 to 26, brought together 2,056 robots from 666 teams representing 16 countries. Competitors took part in 51 events, ranging from athletics and football to practical tasks designed to test robots in real-world situations.
The event reflects China’s rapid expansion of humanoid robotics, an industry Beijing considers strategically important. The country has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and robotics as it seeks to develop machines capable of working in factories, logistics, healthcare and other sectors.
The robot’s performance also demonstrates how quickly the technology has progressed. At the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games in 2025, Tiangong Ultra completed the 100 meters in 21.50 seconds, according to Reuters. Its latest performance represents a dramatic improvement in only one year.
However, robot and human records are not directly comparable. Human sprinting is governed by international athletics rules, while humanoid robot competitions use their own technical rules and equipment. The comparison nevertheless illustrates the rapid advances being made in robotic movement, balance, motor control and artificial intelligence.
The Beijing games are part of China’s broader push to move humanoid robots beyond demonstrations and toward practical commercial applications. Experts say the machines still face significant challenges in reliability, autonomy, energy efficiency and safe operation in unpredictable environments.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
