Tiangong Ultra Clocks 8.86 Seconds in Robot Sprint, Beating Human Record by 0.72 Seconds in China

The result was achieved last night in the semifinal of the large-robot category, as reported by CCTV. The previous competition record was 9.39 seconds, set by another robot. Tiangong Ultra had clocked 9.34 and 9.32 seconds in earlier stages before stopping the timer at 8.86 seconds — more than seven tenths of a second under the human world record of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt.

CCTV reported that the Games are also becoming a showcase for the evolution of China's humanoid robot industry. This year's edition expanded the number and difficulty of the events, including competitions that test balance, control, strength, and the ability to operate in scenarios closer to real-world applications.