A Chinese humanoid robot called “Lightning,” developed by smartphone maker Honor, runs 100 meters in 9.32 seconds in a test event, according to China’s state broadcaster, reported by multiple outlets. The time is faster than the men’s 100m world record of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt in 2009.
The robot reaches a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during the run, which takes place ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. Several reports emphasize that this is a preparatory demonstration of a robot race rather than an official human athletics competition, and that it is intended to show progress in humanoid robotics.
Outlets largely align on the key figures—9.32 seconds, 9.58 seconds for Bolt, and 14.5 meters per second peak speed. Coverage differs mainly in emphasis: some highlight the headline comparison to Bolt’s record, while others place the performance in the broader context of rapid improvements in humanoid robots and China’s push to develop them for real-world uses.
