Beijing World Humanoid Robot Games: Robots Beat Bolt—Then Struggle to Slow Down
At the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, two autonomous, bipedal robots posted sprint times that beat Usain Bolt’s famous 100-meter record—only for the race to reveal a different problem once they crossed the finish line. The event showcased rapid progress in robot speed, but it also highlighted how hard it is for machines to slow down safely at the same pace.
The games, held annually in Beijing since last year, featured the 100-meter sprint as a headline discipline. This year, Tiangong Ultra ran the distance in 9.39 seconds, setting a new benchmark for the competition. Honors Lightning followed closely with a 9.47-second run. For context, Bolt’s human 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds was set at the 2009 Athletics World Championships in Berlin.
Autonomous speed beats the benchmark
The overall tournament spans five days and includes 51 additional competitions beyond sprinting, ranging from boxing and soccer to dance and industrial-style task challenges. Organizers said 2,056 robots will participate across 666 teams from 16 countries, with the spotlight placed particularly on the new record chase in the autonomous two-legged sprint.
By the numbers, Tiangong Ultra’s 9.39-second run was about 0.19 seconds faster than Bolt’s mark. Honors Lightning’s 9.47 seconds came in roughly 0.11 seconds ahead of the Jamaican sprinter’s 9.58. The results were framed as evidence of quick improvement from the teams responsible for the machines—though the earlier performance history also shows how far the technology has come. Tiangong Ultra previously won the 100-meter event last year, but it took 21.50 seconds to do so.
Too fast to stop cleanly
Speed wasn’t the only story, however. After the robots crossed the finish line, none of the three machines that started were able to stop in time. Tiangong Ultra and Lightning were caught by a padded mat placed along the track, but both still toppled and fell to the side after impact. A third competitor appeared to attempt a late deceleration, but it slid in last, ending up on its metal rear as it reached the padding.
With the sprint record now within reach for humanoid robots, the Beijing races raised an obvious next challenge: translating top-end velocity into reliable braking and control right at the end of the run.
