Chinese Robot Breaks Bolt Record in 100-Meter Race

China’s state broadcaster reported on Saturday that a human-like robot developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor covered 100 meters in 9.32 seconds, breaking the world record previously held by Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

The robot, named “Lightning,” reached a top speed of 14.5 meters per second during a trial race ahead of the Second Humanoid Robot Games, which kicked off in Beijing today.

This performance surpasses the men’s 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds, set by Bolt at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.

China is bolstering its humanoid robotics sector as an emerging strategic industry, with policymakers and companies betting that advances in artificial intelligence and hardware will accelerate the adoption of these robots in manufacturing, logistics, and consumer applications.

Previously, the “Lightning” robot won a half-marathon in Beijing in April, covering 21 kilometers in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, outpacing the elite men’s world record for the event.

China Central Television reported that the robot stood 169 centimeters tall, with legs measuring 95 centimeters during the half-marathon. Researchers later extended its legs by 10 centimeters to a length of 1.05 meters in preparation for the Humanoid Robot Games.