Chinese robots break Usain Bolt's 100-meter record at Beijing World Humanoid Robot Games

At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, two robots surpassed Usain Bolt's 100-meter sprint record of 9.58 seconds, with one achieving 9.39 seconds. Another robot completed 400 meters in 39.7 seconds, beating Wayde van Niekerk's record. The five-day event, heavily promoted by Chinese state media, features 51 competitions, including 30 sports and 21 scenario-based contests, with over 40% requiring full autonomy. Robotics investor Xu Qiaosheng noted the increased intensity, demanding advanced battery management and thermal dissipation, which holds "huge significance for the development of China's industrial sector." Beyond sports, the games test robots in simulated factories, restaurants, offices, and emergency situations, focusing on their ability to handle real-world imperfections and recover from errors without human intervention. Lumos Robotics CEO Yu Chao emphasized that the long-term value depends on real-world problem-solving, stating, "Simply running and jumping does not improve efficiency."