Chinese humanoid robot Beijing World Humanoid Robot Games robotics | AP News
Experts are amazed to see such progress in the humanoid robot industry. “This is a significant milestone — not simply because the robot ran faster than a human, but because of what it takes to make a bipedal robot run at this speed,” said Dennis Hong, a pro...
Key takeaways
- The most recent headlines on humanoid robots center on the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, where Chinese machines dramatically outpaced human athletes— a Tiangong Ultra model completed the 100‑metre sprint in 9.39 seconds, shattering Usain Bolt’s 9.58‑second record, while another robot set a 400‑metre world record of 38.15 seconds and a standing‑high‑jump of 3.40 metres, though both finalists crashed into a padded wall at the finish.
- Engineers attributed the speed gains to liquid‑cooled motors and higher limb torque, while experts warned that such feats do not yet translate into practical autonomy for tasks like warehouse or household work.
- Parallel developments were reported at the University of Miami, where the Fourier Intelligence GR‑2 humanoid joined the RoboCanes team and is being programmed for household chores and coordinated soccer play, leveraging large‑language‑model advances.
- Meanwhile, a Shanghai‑based firm’s engineer claimed that fully functional humanoid robot soldiers could be fielded within five to ten years, positioning the technology as a strategic asset for national defence.
- Despite the spectacle, analysts highlighted that commercial profitability remains elusive, noting that most humanoid research still focuses on experimental performance rather than mass‑deployment capabilities.
Experts are amazed to see such progress in the humanoid robot industry.
“This is a significant milestone — not simply because the robot ran faster than a human, but because of what it takes to make a bipedal robot run at this speed,” said Dennis Hong, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles.
“As speed increases, balance, control, impacts, actuator performance, and mechanical robustness all become much more challenging,” said Hong.
The record-breaking robot fell after hitting the finish line, a padded barrier, with sparks flying from its waist.
New robots, funding, and signals. Every Thursday.
Unsubscribe anytime.
Mentioned in this article