Robot breaks Usain Bolt's record in China (video)

Chinese robot breaks Usain Bolt's record (video)

A humanoid robot created by Chinese smartphone maker Honor has broken Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt's world record by running 100 meters in 9.32 seconds, Reuters reported.

The robot, dubbed "Lightning," reached a speed of 14.5 meters per second in a qualifying competition for the Second World Humanoid Robot Games that began in Beijing on August 22. That's faster than Bolt's record of 9.58 seconds set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

China is developing humanoid robots as a strategic industry. Officials and companies in the country are confident that advances in artificial intelligence and technical capabilities will accelerate their introduction into manufacturing, logistics and consumer services.

The robot Lightning also won the Beijing Half Marathon in April, covering the 21km distance in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. This result is also faster than the world record for professional male runners.

The robot was 169cm tall at the time of the half marathon, with legs measuring 95cm. China Central Television reported that researchers had lengthened its legs by another 10cm, bringing them to 1.05m, ahead of the World Humanoid Robot Games.