**Chinese Robot Tiangong Breaks Records at World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing**
Beijing, China – In a remarkable display of technological advancement, China's Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot completed a 100-meter sprint in just 8.86 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing on Tuesday. This impressive time not only surpassed the robot's previous record of 9.39 seconds, set during the event's opening, but also outpaced the longstanding human world record of 9.58 seconds, held by Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt since 2009.
Developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, Tiangong Ultra achieved this groundbreaking performance during the semifinal of the large-size robot division. The robot's rapid evolution has captivated audiences at the second edition of the World Humanoid Robot Games, which features over 2,000 robots from 666 teams competing in 51 events, including football, dancing, and various industrial tasks.
Tiangong Ultra's victory in the 100 meters marks a significant improvement from its performance at last year's inaugural games, where it finished the race in a much slower time of 21.50 seconds. Additionally, the robot previously made headlines by winning the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing, completing the race in an amateur-level time of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The excitement surrounding Tiangong's performance was palpable, as spectators witnessed the robot's astonishing speed firsthand. "Reading that a motor-powered robot can run faster than a human is one thing," commented Li Hui, a 26-year-old engineer with Fudan University’s table-tennis team. "Seeing it rush past you during training is completely different. You realize how impressive it is."
Tiangong Ultra's record-setting sprint concluded with the robot striking a thick mat placed beyond the finish line to halt its momentum. However, the impact caused a small fire to erupt from the robot's torso, leading to its collapse. In a separate semifinal heat, another robot disassembled mid-race, highlighting the challenges faced in robotic engineering.
The World Humanoid Robot Games have seen several human world records broken during the competition, with Tiangong Ultra's achievements being particularly noteworthy. In addition to the 100-meter sprint, the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center announced that Tiangong had also set new records in the 400-meter race with a time of 38.15 seconds, a 1,500-meter mark of 2 minutes and 21.64 seconds, and a high jump of 2.88 meters.
The center, which is backed by a consortium of state-owned enterprises, investment funds, and major tech companies including AI and cloud giant Baidu and smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi, has positioned humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry in China. This initiative aligns with the country's broader goals of harnessing advancements in artificial intelligence, motors, and sensors for applications in manufacturing, logistics, and services.
As the World Humanoid Robot Games continue, the advancements showcased by Tiangong Ultra and its competitors underscore the rapid progress being made in robotics and artificial intelligence. The event not only highlights the capabilities of humanoid robots but also reflects China's commitment to leading the way in this innovative field.