Lightning 100m in 9.32 Seconds Surpasses Bolt

Honor's humanoid robot Lightning ran 100 meters in 9.32 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt's human world record and signaling rapid advances in robotics development. The test, with a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second, occurred ahead of the second World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing and followed Lightning's prior achievement of finishing the Beijing half marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. Researchers have since lengthened Lightning's legs to about 1.05 meters, part of ongoing hardware and AI refinements to boost speed and stability. The demonstrations underscore China's push to position humanoid robots as a strategic industry across manufacturing, logistics, and consumer applications. Organizers expect Lightning to compete in multiple events at the Games, highlighting both the capabilities and broader implications of ultra-fast humanoid robotics. The coverage across multiple outlets emphasizes the broader context of robotics development in China and its potential to redefine human-robot limits.