Humanoid robots beat Bolt: World Championship games in Beijing

China's Humanoids Double Peak Performance at the Robot World Championship

2026-08-24 Source: dpa 3 min Reading Time

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Two Chinese robots amazed at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing ...

In China, more precisely in Beijing, two Chinese robots have made headlines. One surpassed the previous record in the 100-meter sprint (symbolic image). And the other excelled with its expertise as a goal scorer ...(Image: AI-generated) — In China, more precisely in Beijing, two Chinese robots have made headlines. One surpassed the previous record in the 100-meter sprint (symbolic image). And the other excelled with its expertise as a goal scorer ...
(Image: AI-generated)

A robot has broken a human's existing record in the 100-meter sprint at the opening of a world championship in China. During the opening ceremony for the World Humanoid Robot Games, the humanoid from the Chinese team X-Humanoid reached the finish line in just 9.39 seconds, beating the record time of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt for the same distance. Additionally, a robot from the Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor had previously surpassed the Jamaican's record with a time of 9.32 seconds, as reported by Chinese state television. Following their sprint, however, the artificial sprinters did not stop but spectacularly crashed into a protective wall. The organizers expect more than 660 teams with a total of over 2,000 robots from 16 countries. Most teams are from China, originating from companies and universities. Among the 51 disciplines are long jump, weightlifting, table tennis, soccer, as well as everyday scenarios like household tasks, rescue operations, and production lines in which engineers aim to showcase their robots.

Humanoid Robot Triumphs Over Human Goalkeeper

And another humanoid robot developed in China can score goals against a human goalkeeper using a special technique. With the help of a new AI control system, it tracks the ball with its camera, adjusts its steps directly, and shoots from various positions, as reported by a Chinese research team in the journal Science Robotics. Soccer, as further explained, is a challenging test field for humanoids, as the robots must track a moving ball, maintain balance, and quickly adjust their movements. However, in many previous systems, perception and motion control are separated from each other.

High Accuracy Rate from Various Positions

However, the new control system closely integrates both aspects. The system was tested with the T1 robot from the Chinese manufacturer Booster Robotics, which is approximately 1.20 meters (approx. 3.9 ft) tall and weighs 30 kilograms (approx. 66 lbs). During another test series, the robot performed ten tests with the ball at 14 different positions, amounting to a total of 140 tests. In the front field area, it scored in about 80 to 90 percent of the tests, and in the back field area, in 60 to 70 percent. A goalkeeper was not mentioned. The control system is not yet sufficient for full team play. It does not take teammates or opponents into account and therefore cannot plan passes, defensive moves, or coordinated team plays. However, the authors believe this technology could make robots more autonomous and adaptable outside of soccer.

In our China Market Insider, we regularly provide you with relevant information directly from China. (Image:© Eisenhans - stock.adobe.com)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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