Humanoid Robot Tiangong Ultra Breaks 100m Record

On August 23, 2023, the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center's Tiangong Ultra achieved a remarkable feat by completing the 100 meters in 9.39 seconds, breaking Usain Bolt's long-standing record of 9.58 seconds set during the 2009 Berlin World Athletics Championships. The robot initially struggled but utilized its advanced balance and movement systems to recover and take the lead, finishing ahead of another robot, Lightning, which completed the distance in 9.47 seconds.

The engineers behind Tiangong Ultra made significant modifications, including lengthening Lightning's legs by 10 centimeters to enhance its performance. The rapid improvement in the robot's speed, from 21.50 seconds in a previous race in 2025 to 9.39 seconds, underscores the potential of humanoid robotics in various industries.

This advancement allows for quick redesigns and testing of components, enabling machines to evolve at a pace that biological athletes cannot match.