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Lightning robot sprints 100 meters in 9.32 seconds

8/22/2026

27 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Lightning Breaks Record

Honor-developed humanoid robot Lightning ran 100 m in 9.32 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record.
The robot reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during the sprint.
Lightning’s 100-m test served as preparation for the second World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing on Aug 22 2026.
Earlier in April, Lightning won a 21-km Beijing half marathon in 50 minutes 26 seconds.

Summary

U.S. bans humanoids

The U.S. FCC banned imports of new foreign-made humanoid robots, specifically Chinese models.
The Pentagon added Chinese robot maker Unitree to its list of firms with alleged military ties.
Beijing officials denounced the U.S. restrictions and defended China’s humanoid robot sector during the games opening ceremony.
Sixteen nations fielded teams in the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games, with over 2,000 robots competing in 51 events.

History

Historical Context

In 2004 DARPA launched the Grand Challenge, offering a $10 million prize for autonomous vehicles to traverse a 150-km desert, attracting 15 teams. The success spurred later contests such as the 2007 Urban Challenge and the 2012 DARPA Robotics Challenge, which focused on humanoid robots in hazardous settings. These competitions now shape policy, exemplified by recent bans on Chinese robot models.

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Lightning Breaks Record

Honor-developed humanoid robot Lightning ran 100 m in 9.32 seconds, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record.
The robot reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during the sprint.
Lightning’s 100-m test served as preparation for the second World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing on Aug 22 2026.
Earlier in April, Lightning won a 21-km Beijing half marathon in 50 minutes 26 seconds.

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