#robotics

2 topics

Aug 23, 2026

China's Humanoid Robots: A Record Sprint and Fires

At Beijing's 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games, a Chinese humanoid robot ran the 100m in 9.32 seconds — faster than Usain Bolt's 9.58-second human world record, though as a robot test run rather than an official athletic record. At the same event, other robots fell or, unable to slow at the finish, crashed and caught fire. Japanese reactions split between mocking the mishaps and warning that the raw development speed should not be underestimated.

Chinese EV Fires and a Shattering Robot Draw Jeers in Japan

Society

Aug 22, 2026

Chinese EV Fires and a Shattering Robot Draw Jeers in Japan

A video of a Chinese EV bursting into flames and one of a bipedal robot shattering after a fall spread across Japanese boards as the familiar 'China Kaboom' meme. Alongside the mockery, skeptics noted the car's hood was open and the charging cable did not look connected, and pointed out that other makers' EVs have caught fire too — while the maker said the car had skipped proper inspection after an earlier crash.