China's Unitree Robotics sets a new world speed record with its H1 humanoid robot. In a recently released video, the bipedal robot is shown sprinting at a speed of 3.3 meters per second (11.9 km/h or 7.4 mph), and the fun doesn't end there.
First announced last December, H1 is Unitree's first humanoid model. In the past, the company was better known for its dog-like four-legged robots.
The H1 version, as originally announced, stands 1,805 mm (71 in) tall, weighs approximately 47 kg (104 lb), and can carry a payload of up to 30 kg (66 lb). Each leg has five degrees of freedom thanks to joints at the hips, knees, and ankles. The joints at the shoulder and elbow give each arm a total of four degrees of freedom.
![The Unitree H1 stands 1,805 mm (71 in) tall, weighs approximately 47 kg (104 lb), and can carry a payload of up to 30 kg (66 lb).](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/f163828/2147483647/strip/true/crop/559x537+0+0/resize/559x537!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7a%2Fb3%2Fb585cca74319954e87bc8b8c860e%2F1-205e4f26-25e6-4cea-b740-b78c7b40317a.jpeg)
Unitree Robotics
The robot images its surroundings in 360 degrees via a head-mounted Intel RealSense D435i depth-sensing camera and a Livox MID360 LiDAR module. The device's output is analyzed in real time by dual Intel Core i7-1265U microprocessors.
Let's take a quick look at what the original version of the H1, released just three months ago, was capable of. Best of all, it allows you to maintain your balance and continue walking even when kicked.
Introducing Unitree H1: The first general-purpose humanoid robot | Implemented AI Price Less Than $90,000
In the released video, today (March 1), the latest version of H1, called Evolution V3.0, does more. Most importantly, as mentioned earlier, they walk quickly along a flat surface, with a reported speed of 3.3 m/s. According to Unitree, this is a new world record for a life-size humanoid robot.
To give a little context, Agility Robotics' Cassie bipedal robot set the world robot sprint record in 2022. The record covered a distance of 100 meters (328 feet) in 24.73 seconds. This averages out to 4.0 meters per second (14.4 km/h). or 8.9 mph). However, Cassie is not essentially a fully humanoid, just a set of legs and a “head.”
![The Unitree H1 is still a few years away from hitting the market.](https://assets.newatlas.com/dims4/default/16b59f7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/563x528+0+0/resize/563x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewatlas-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F19%2F27%2F6b76ea1142b89b0bc5858f229982%2F2-a4d703c9-2f63-4c9a-93e6-7ca10c3775a9.jpeg)
Unitree Robotics
Competitor Figure doesn't yet prioritize walking speed for its humanoid robots, and neither does Sanctuary's Phoenix model. have At this point, leg-makers are focusing much more on dexterity, which in itself is starting to look incredibly fast and fluid. And while Tesla recently boasted a new walking speed for its Optimus full-size humanoid, it was only 0.6 m/s.
Compare this to the new video from Unitree H1 Evolution V3.0. As well as walking at speed, they can also dance (demonstrating full-body coordination), run up and down stairs (turning on the way back), and even jump. As tall as the person standing next to you.
Unitree H1 humanoid robot breaks world speed record [full-size humanoid] Evolution V3.0
Because the H1's legs are driven solely by the house-branded M107 electric motor, standing jumps are more important than you might think. More adept jumping humanoids, such as Boston Dynamics' Atlas, use more powerful but larger, heavier, and leakier hydraulic actuators. Achieving this explosive movement in an electric motor is an impressive job from Unitree!
If you want your own H1, wait three to ten years and prepare to pay US$90,000.
Source: Unitree Robotics