The Tiangong Ultra robot ran the 100-meter distance in 8.86 seconds on Tuesday (the 25th) during the semi-finals of the World Games of Humanoid Robots held in Beijing. This time was faster than Usain Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds.
In the preliminary round, the humanoid achieved a result of 9.39 seconds, and just a few hours later, developers allowed it to lower its own figure by 0.53 seconds.
Tiangong Ultra's first recorded result was already below Bolt's record set in 2009. In the semi-finals, the gap widened: 8.86 seconds provides a 0.72-second advantage over the Jamaican sprinter's record.
This result also demonstrates a significant improvement compared to the first race of the day, as a half-second reduction over 100 meters is a substantial achievement.
Furthermore, a statement from the developer of Tiangong Ultra indicated that the robot broke the record five times in just two hours. The company called this result a 'historic moment for silicon-based life.'
The World Games of Humanoid Robots include machines in various disciplines, but running is one of the most visible demonstrations of the evolution of these systems.
Comparison of Results
Tiangong Ultra demonstrated this between the qualifying round and the semi-finals, accelerating from 9.39 to 8.86 seconds in a short period.
Although sources provide different figures regarding the registered records during the competition, they agree on one point: the Chinese humanoid managed to surpass Usain Bolt's mark of 9.58 seconds.