Chinese Humanoid Robot Beats Usain Bolt’s 100m Time: What It Really Means
A humanoid robot has just done something that is truly reminiscent of a science-fiction movie plot.
According to reports, a Chinese robot called Lightning has run 100 metres in just 9.32 seconds during a test in Beijing. This is faster than the official 100m world record of 9.58 seconds set by Usain Bolt.
Yes, that’s right.
Lightning, a robot created by smartphone maker Honor, reportedly reached speeds of 14.5 metres per second, or 52.2 km/h, before slowing to a stop. Another Chinese robot, Tiangong Ultra, also reportedly ran 100 metres in less than 10 seconds.
However, despite the impressive feat, there is one small detail that prevents Lightning from beating the legendary Jamaican sprinter’s world record.
So No, Usain Bolt’s World Record Has Not Been Beaten
As mentioned, Bolt’s world record time of 9.58 seconds is still the official world record for the men’s 100 metres. And while the robot is undoubtedly faster than the human legend, it would not receive an official entry in the same record books. At least not yet.
The reason for this is fairly simple: the robot is not competing in the same race, against the same rules.
That is why, for now at least, Bolt’s name continues to appear as the fastest human over 100 metres on the official Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) website.
Lightning’s 9.32 seconds is faster than the world record, but it is not an official world record.
Nevertheless, the robot’s speed is undeniably impressive.
Think about how much work it must take for a two-legged machine to run the 100 metres at a speed of more than 50 km/h without turning into a pile of scrap metal at the first hurdle.
It has to calculate each step, move its legs, balance its body, and reduce the force of its impact on the ground.
And then it has to do the reverse.
The Robot Has Been Accelerated Successfully
One of the more amusing aspects of the robot race seems to be that some humanoid robots have required safety padding at the end of the race, reports Reuters.
Slowing down is apparently not as simple as hitting the brakes in a car, reports Reuters.
For humans, it is relatively simple to slow down after running a sprint. Our bodies do not require us to think about it. Our muscles, joints, and brains all work together to ensure that we can stop when we need to.
A robot has to be able to do it all mechanically and digitally.
In other words, while humans can manage to slow down while sprinting, robots have to be programmed to do it, and that is only one of the challenges of creating these machines.
But What Happened in Beijing?
The race is only the beginning.
The robot’s amazing skill takes place at the World Humanoid Robot Games, which are being held in Beijing, China, between August 22 and 26.
The competition, which has attracted more than 2,000 robots from 16 different countries, includes 51 different events.
These competitions include some oddly human activities, such as running races, football matches, and other sports.
While all this is impressive, it is the less “fun” competitions that have captured the imagination of many.
Some of the events see these robots try to complete tasks that mimic human work.
According to Reuters, more than 40% of these events involve fully autonomous robots.
This means that the machines must complete tasks in factory-like settings or other work environments.
Watching a robot win a sprint is impressive, but the prospect of a robot being able to walk into a factory, identify the right item, lift it, connect the right cable, identify a fault, and fix it without a constant human guide is an astonishing technological feat.
Why Are the Chinese So Interested in Humanoid Robots?
China has a thriving manufacturing sector, one of the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) markets, and one of the most competitive battery-supply chains in the world. Humanoid robots happen to be at the crossroads of all three.
They require powerful and energy-dense batteries, sophisticated control systems and artificial intelligence (AI), and numerous hardware technologies that go into both EVs and traditional industrial automation.
In addition, the shape and movements of humanoid robots mean that they could perform the tasks of humans in the factories of the future.
This is an important point.
Much of the infrastructure in the modern world has already been built around the human body.
Doors are a certain height. Steps are a certain depth. Tools and machinery have a certain weight and size. Factories and vehicles are built with humans in mind.
A robot with two legs and two arms would be able to do many of these tasks that humans do every day.
It is, of course, still a dream of many companies.
For now, at least, the technical challenges of humanoid robots continue to outweigh the potential benefits.
A Robot That Can Sprint Is Not Necessarily a Useful Robot
When it comes to humanoid robots, one might say that this is where the excitement should be tempered with realism.
The ability of a robot to complete a 100m dash is undoubtedly impressive. It makes for a great headline and marketing tool for the companies behind it. But does it really translate to the robot being able to perform useful work?
Imagine placing one of these robots in a warehouse.
The floor is not completely clear. There are pieces of equipment and materials strewn all over the place. The robot’s path is temporarily blocked by a human. A cable has snagged on another piece of equipment. The robot weighs more than expected.
Humans encounter these minor obstacles every day without thinking about them. Robots do not, unless they have been specifically programmed to do so.
They require sensors, software, and mechanical systems that allow them to respond to such annoyances.
In other words, a robot’s usefulness in a practical application can tell us much more about its potential than a race.
So What Is the Point of This?
This is a fair question.
Why would a company invest in the development of a humanoid robot?
There are reasons why wheeled or tracked robots are often preferable to humanoid robots when it comes to mobility. They tend to be more efficient and do not require as much power to move.
Humanoid robots are interesting when there is a need in the environment for something that mimics a human. In other words, if there are stairs, a ladder, a door at a certain height, shelves, workbenches, and hand tools that need to be picked up and used.
This type of environment would benefit from a robot that can navigate like a human. However, it should also be noted that not every task is ideal for a humanoid robot.
The potential advantages of these robots will only be realized if companies can create versions of them that are practical, reliable, safe, and affordable.
Factories and warehouses are natural candidates. But what about hotels, hospitals, construction sites, and even disaster response?
The possibilities are seemingly endless. The technology is not quite there yet.
However, the development of these technologies will certainly be interesting to watch.
What Is the Real Competition?
This brings us back to the initial news. Usain Bolt being beaten by a machine at his own specialty.
The truth is that while beating the world record sprinter is certainly headline-grabbing, it is the race between robot manufacturers for supremacy that is more important.
The race is not really about how fast these robots can run.
The competition is really about how to control such powerful machines and get them to work reliably.
Walking is challenging enough, but running is much more difficult. The same goes for manipulating objects. And then, of course, there is the challenge of working all three together while navigating the environment around the robot.
This is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes into play.
Modern humanoid robots are no longer simply a collection of mechanics and metal. They require sophisticated software that allows them to perceive the world around them and control their movements accordingly.
This combination of AI and machine is sometimes referred to as embodied AI.
It is an area of research and development that could become more important in the years ahead.
What Will Happen Next?
The obvious answer is that the next step will not involve a robot that can run the 100m even faster.
A 9-second humanoid robot is certainly exciting, but it is hard to believe that reducing that time to 8.5 seconds will be that important to the global economy.
Making the robot run for many hours at a time without having to stop and recharge would be more impressive.
So would teach it to pick up hundreds of different items and use them as needed, navigate unfamiliar environments, and work safely around humans.
Power supply and reliability will be important, as will cost-performance.
It makes little sense to develop the most advanced humanoid robot if it is so expensive that most companies are unwilling to use it.
It is entirely possible that the most successful humanoid robot manufacturers will be the ones who manage to make practical, reliable, and affordable robots, rather than the fastest.
