During the preliminary round of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China’s Tiangong Ultra completed the 100‑meter dash in 9.32 seconds, edging out the official human world record held by Jamaica’s Usain Bolt by 0.26 seconds. The robot posted three times—9.32, 9.34 and 9.39 seconds—leading the field, according to Beijing Daily.
In the opening heat, Tiangong Ultra overtook the Honor‑manufactured robot Lightning, finishing in 9.39 seconds while Lightning crossed in 9.47 seconds. After the finish, both machines stumbled toward the sidelines and relied on thick safety mats to stop; Lightning required a stretcher.
Robotics Competition Context
The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center developed Tiangong Ultra. The five‑day event, running through Wednesday at the National Speed Skating Oval, has registered 2,056 robots from 666 teams for 51 events and 1,301 competition sessions. Organizers describe the 100‑meter dash as requiring fully autonomous robots this year, mixing sport‑style runs with tasks drawn from factory, hotel, retail and emergency‑response scenarios.
“Only when it can work in those end scenarios does it have real value,” said Lumos Robotics CEO Yu Chao. “Simply running and jumping does not improve efficiency.”
Regulatory backdrop
The robot’s performance comes less than a month after the Federal Communications Commission added foreign‑produced advanced robotic devices to its Covered List, a move based on national‑security determinations. The rule blocks new covered models from obtaining FCC equipment authorization without conditional approval, while existing authorized devices remain unaffected. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr cited President Trump’s leadership in securing America’s critical supply chains.
World Athletics continues to list Bolt’s 9.58‑second run at the 2009 Berlin World Championships as the official men’s 100‑meter record. The robot’s time, while impressive, does not replace the human record.
Implications
Tiangong Ultra’s speed showcases China’s rapid advances in robotics, yet the reliance on padding to stop highlights a practical limitation. The event underscores the growing intersection of autonomous technology with traditional sport formats and raises questions about future regulatory oversight as such machines become more capable.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
