A humanoid robot recorded a 9.39-second run in the 100-meter dash during a preliminary race at the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday (Aug. 22), a time reported to be faster than the 9.58-second human world record set by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
Footage aired by CCTV News showed three humanoid robots launching at the starter's gun and accelerating rapidly. Two of the machines—developed by the Tianzhuo team and the Wind-Fire Lightning team—ran closely matched from the outset, with stride cadence increasing and arm swings widening as they picked up speed.
The robot built by the Tianzhuo team ultimately pulled ahead in the final meters, crossing the line first by about one body length and stopping the clock at 9.39 seconds. The result was said to have broken the event's previous tournament record.
The report also highlighted the pace of improvement in the competition. At last year's games, the best time in the same event was 21.50 seconds; this year's preliminary mark of 9.39 represents a dramatic reduction, fueling expectations that robots could post even faster times in the finals.
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