The Chinese robot Unitree H1 reached a speed of 10 m/s, setting a new record among androids.

Short event summary

On Saturday the Chinese robot Unitree H1 completed a 100‑meter run, accelerating to 10 m/s (≈36 km/h). This set a new world record for humanoid robots and allowed it to surpass its competitor – MirrorMe Bolt.

What happened
Parameter Value Model Unitree H1 Distance 100 m Maximum speed 10 m/s (36 km/h) Weight 62 kg Leg length 0.8 m
Comparison with humans: the fastest human, Usain Bolt, reached 12.42 m/s. Thus the robot is already nearly catching up to the human maximum and surpasses most ordinary people.

Why it matters
- Technological breakthrough – experts believe that the key to such acceleration lies in software rather than just hardware improvements.
- Comparison with Tesla Optimus – the American robot can only reach 2.7 m/s. Elon Musk emphasized that Optimus will be “slow and weak” so that a human can escape from it or deal with it in case of threat.
- Unitree IPO – demonstrating high capabilities is important for attracting investors before the company goes public.

What’s next
By the end of the month, Beijing will host its second annual half‑marathon featuring humanoid robots. More than 300 models are expected to participate, underscoring growing interest in robotics and its commercial potential.

Conclusion: Unitree H1 has proven that modern humanoid robots can already run almost as fast as top athletes, and further improvements await not only hardware innovations but also software refinement.