Chinese robot beats Usain Bolt’s 100m world record in test run
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The robot reached a peak speed of 14.5m per second during a preparatory test event for the second World Humanoid Robot Games.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- A Chinese humanoid robot named Lightning ran 100m in 9.32 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's 9.58-second world record in a test run.
- Lightning reached a top speed of 14.5m per second and also completed a 21km half marathon faster than elite human runners.
- China is promoting humanoid robots as a key industry, advancing AI and hardware for use in manufacturing, logistics and consumer applications.
AI generated
BEIJING – A humanoid robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor ran 100m in 9.32 seconds, China’s state broadcaster reported on Aug 22, beating the human world record held by Jamaican sprinting great Usain Bolt.
The robot, dubbed Lightning, reached a peak speed of 14.5m per second during a preparatory test event for the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which opened in Beijing on Aug 22.
The performance surpassed the 9.58-second men’s 100m world record set by Bolt at the World Athletics Championships in Berlin in 2009.
China has been promoting humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry, with policymakers and companies betting that advances in AI and hardware will accelerate their deployment in manufacturing, logistics and consumer applications.
Lightning also won the 21km Beijing half marathon in April in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the elite men’s human world-record pace.
The robot stood 169cm tall and had 95cm legs at the half marathon. Researchers have since lengthened its legs by 10cm to 1.05m ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games, China Central Television reported. REUTERS
