In the national speed skating arena in Beijing, an international robotics competition is taking place. The event runs until Wednesday and brings together 2056 robots from 666 teams from 16 countries. The programme covers 51 disciplines, with a focus on the physical capabilities of new generations of humanoid robots.
Particular attention has been drawn to the Tiang Ultra robot, developed at the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre. This model completed the 100-metre track in 9.39 seconds. The result is close to the world record in the 100-metre race, set by Usain Bolt in 2009 with a time of 9.58 seconds.
The other notable participant is the robot Lightning, developed by the Chinese company Honor. This robot ran the 100-metre track in 9.47 seconds. It achieved a maximum speed of 14.5 metres per second, placing it among the fastest robots at the competition.
The robot Lightning has legs measuring 95 centimetres in length. The robot’s height is 169 centimetres, making it similar in height to an average human. Its legs are extended by 10 centimetres, bringing the total to 1.05 meters. This specific design allows the robot to take larger steps and move more quickly.
In addition to speed, the robots demonstrate other capabilities. They are tested in various conditions to assess their robustness and reliability. The competition in Beijing represents an opportunity to explore the limits of robots’ capabilities and their application in the real world.
