A humanoid robot, developed by Chinese smartphone manufacturer Honor and nicknamed Lightning, has achieved a historic milestone by running 100 meters in an impressive 9.32 seconds. This time was recorded on April 19, 2026, during a preparatory test event for the World Humanoid Robot Games, and surpassed the world record held by Jamaican multi-champion Usain Bolt.
Robotic advancement: Lightning stands out in speed test
The Honor Lightning robot’s performance is remarkable, surpassing Usain Bolt’s record of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin by 0.26 seconds. During the test, Lightning reached a maximum speed of 14.5 meters per second, demonstrating the capacity of new generation robots in high-performance tasks.
Versatility and improvements of the Chinese prototype
Still in the same period, the Lightning robot had already demonstrated its versatility by winning the 21 kilometer Beijing half marathon, completing the route in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. That time is also faster than the elite men’s world record for the distance. Initially 169 centimeters tall and with legs measuring 95 centimeters, the prototype had its legs lengthened by 10 centimeters, reaching 1.05 meters, before the World Humanoid Robot Games, aiming to further optimize its performance.
National strategy: China boosts the development of humanoids
Honor Lightning’s technological advancement reflects China’s commitment to promoting the humanoid robot industry as a strategic and emerging sector. Policymakers and large companies in the country are investing significantly, betting that innovations in artificial intelligence and hardware will accelerate the implementation of these robots in several areas. The expectation is that this technology will find future applications in manufacturing, logistics and even consumer services, redefining the capabilities of automation.
