Tiangong humanoid robot sets 100m record at 8.86 seconds in Beijing

China's Tiangong Ultra humanoid robot sprinted 100 meters in a record-breaking 8.86 seconds at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Tuesday. This impressive feat surpasses its own previous mark of 9.39 seconds set earlier in the event. Tiangong's new record also outpaces Usain Bolt's longstanding human world record of 9.58 seconds, achieved in 2009.

The rapid advancements in humanoid robotics have captured significant attention at this year's event, which features over 2,000 robots from 666 teams competing in 51 diverse categories, including football and dancing. Tiangong's latest performance builds on its inaugural win in last year’s games, where it completed the 100 meters in a much slower 21.50 seconds. The robot also previously triumphed in a half-marathon, clocking in at an amateur-level 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Li Hui, an engineer from Fudan University, expressed awe at the robot's capabilities, stating that witnessing Tiangong sprint in person is a different experience than merely reading about it. After its record-setting run, the robot did experience a minor mishap, collapsing after hitting a thick mat to stop, which caused a small fire in its torso. In another semifinal heat, a competing robot disassembled mid-race, highlighting the challenges still present in robot engineering.

Tiangong's achievements are part of a broader initiative in China to establish humanoid robots as a strategic emerging industry. The Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, which developed Tiangong, has already claimed four world records for humanoid robots, including impressive times in the 400m and 1,500m sprints, as well as a high jump of 2.88 meters. With support from state-owned enterprises and tech giants like Baidu and Xiaomi, China is pushing to leverage advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics to enhance manufacturing and service sectors.