A Chinese humanoid robot known as “Lightning” has reportedly broken the time set by the world’s fastest human sprinter, clocking an astonishing 9.32 seconds in a 100-metre test faster than Usain Bolt’s long-standing 9.58-second world record, although the robot’s performance does not constitute an official athletics record.
The humanoid robot, reportedly developed by Chinese technology company Honor, is preparing to compete at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.
Lightning’s reported performance has generated significant attention online, with claims that the robot could potentially outperform the fastest human sprinters.
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The machine is also said to have demonstrated its endurance capabilities earlier this year after reportedly completing and winning a Beijing half marathon in 50 minutes and 26 seconds.
However, the reported 9.32-second run should not be treated as a new official athletics world record for now.
Human sprint records are governed by specific competition and measurement requirements, while a robot’s performance would be measured under an entirely different set of conditions.
Bolt’s 9.58-second record, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, therefore remains the official men’s 100-metre world record.
If Lightning’s reported time is confirmed, however, it would represent another remarkable demonstration of the rapid development of humanoid robotics and the increasing capabilities of machines designed to replicate human movement.
