The second edition of the World Robot Games opened Saturday in Beijing with spectacular performances. In the 100-meter dash, Tiangong Ultra, designed by the Beijing Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center, crossed the finish line in 9,39 seconds. Its competitor, Lightning, developed by Honor, finished in 9,47 seconds. These times are faster than the world record set by Usain Bolt in 2009, although the comparison between an athlete and a machine remains primarily symbolic.
The technological progress is nonetheless impressive. In the first edition, in August 2025, Tiangong Ultra needed 21,50 seconds to cover the same distance. In just one year, its time has therefore been reduced by more than half. A robot of the same model also covered 400 meters in 39,7 seconds, compared to 43,03 seconds for the human record held by Wayde van Niekerk.
These results don't yet mean the humanoids have achieved the complete mastery of a champion. After the finish line, both mechanical sprinters encountered significant difficulties slowing down. Lightning even collapsed and had to be evacuated on a stretcher, an unusual scene widely shared on social media. Speed is therefore progressing much faster than stability, autonomy, or the ability to handle unforeseen events.
A technological showcase carefully publicized by Beijing
The jump performed by an X-Humanoid robot also made a strong impression. Without a running start, the machine would have reached 2,88 meters, compared to just 95 centimeters for the best performance recorded at the previous competition. It thus surpasses, under very different conditions, the 2,45-meter human world record held by Javier Sotomayor. This spectacular comparison offers the manufacturers international media exposure, even if it doesn't conform to the rules of a true athletics competition.
For five days, 2,056 robots belonging to 666 teams from 16 countries will participate in over 1,000 competitions across 51 events. Football, boxing, table tennis, weightlifting, dance, and tug-of-war make up a program designed to captivate audiences and produce easily shareable images. A robot's celebration of Cristiano Ronaldo after a free kick exemplifies this desire to humanize machines and transform them into true entertainment characters.
Behind this sporting spectacle, however, lies a major industrial stake. The robots must also be evaluated in real-world situations, such as restaurant service, cable connection, parts assembly, or book filing. Beijing, which considers humanoid robotics a strategic sector, is using these Games as a showcase for its technological lead. Records attract attention, but the real battle will be fought in factories, shops, and service industries, where these machines will have to demonstrate their everyday usefulness.
Community
Comments
Write a comment
Be the first to comment on this article.