Beijing: A Chinese humanoid robot has attracted worldwide attention after recording a remarkable time in the 100 metre sprint. The robot, called Lightning, completed the distance in 9.32 seconds during a preparatory test in Beijing, according to Chinese state media. The performance was faster than the official human men's 100 metre world record of 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009.
Lightning was developed by Chinese technology company Honor and has become one of the most closely watched humanoid robots in China. During the latest test, the machine reached a reported top speed of 14.5 metres per second. The run took place ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games, which began in Beijing on Saturday and will continue until August 26.
The result is another sign of how quickly humanoid robots are improving. Only a few years ago, many bipedal robots struggled to walk steadily or remain upright for long periods. Today, engineers are building machines that can run, jump, play football, perform martial arts and complete long distance races.
Lightning has already made headlines earlier this year. In April, the same robot completed a 21.1 kilometre humanoid half marathon in Beijing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. That performance was also faster than the human men's half marathon world record at the time. The achievement showed that the company was not focusing only on short demonstrations but was also working on endurance and autonomous movement.
The new sprint result highlights a different challenge. Running 100 metres at very high speed requires robots to control their balance while moving their legs rapidly and maintaining stability. A small error in the timing of a movement can cause a humanoid robot to fall. Engineers therefore need to improve motors, joints, sensors, batteries, cooling systems and software at the same time.
Chinese companies have been competing intensely to develop faster and more capable humanoid machines. Unitree, another major Chinese robotics company, recently introduced a humanoid robot called Superman. The company said the machine could reach a top speed of 12.66 metres per second and jump two metres from a standing position.
The competition is not limited to speed. China is increasingly trying to move humanoid robots from impressive public demonstrations into practical workplaces. The World Humanoid Robot Games this year include events designed to test robots in tasks that resemble real jobs. Robots are being challenged to perform activities such as tightening screws, opening bottles and handling small objects with precision.
That change is important because running faster than a human does not automatically make a robot useful in everyday life. A robot that can sprint for a short distance still needs to understand its surroundings, make decisions, handle unexpected situations and work safely around people.
The commercial challenge is now becoming one of the biggest issues facing the industry. Chinese companies have made rapid progress in hardware, helped by a large manufacturing sector and an expanding supply chain for motors, batteries, sensors and other components. However, humanoid robots remain expensive, and many are still being used mainly for demonstrations, research and data collection rather than large scale commercial work.
The latest developments have also increased expectations for artificial intelligence in robotics. Industry leaders believe robots could eventually reach a major breakthrough in their ability to understand unfamiliar environments and follow simple instructions. However, experts say that such progress will require much more training data and better systems for connecting artificial intelligence with physical movement.
Lightning's 9.32 second run should therefore be seen as a striking robotics achievement rather than a new official athletics world record. Human athletics and robotic competitions operate under completely different rules and conditions. Usain Bolt remains the official human 100 metre world record holder with his 9.58 second performance.
Even with that distinction, the demonstration sends a powerful message about the pace of development in humanoid robotics. China's robot competitions have evolved from small technology events into major showcases involving companies, researchers and thousands of machines.
For the public, the sight of a humanoid robot running faster than the fastest human record holder may seem like something from science fiction. For engineers and manufacturers, however, the sprint is another test of what these machines can achieve.
The real race is unlikely to remain on the running track. The bigger competition will be to develop robots that can work reliably, safely and affordably in factories, warehouses, hotels, homes and other everyday environments. Lightning's latest performance shows how far the technology has already travelled, but the next challenge will be proving that humanoid robots can turn spectacular speed into useful work.