China’s Unitree Sets 10 m/s Humanoid Robot Record; Industry Debates Practicality

(Yicai) April 14 -- Unitree Robotics said a humanoid robot it developed reached a peak running speed of 10 meters per second during recent testing, setting a new world record and sparking debate about whether such extreme performance can translate into practical applications.The record was achieved by a specially modified Unitree H1 during a test event for a humanoid robot half-marathon in Beijing on April 11, with the race scheduled for April 19. The event marks the second consecutive year that Beijing will host a marathon featuring both human and robot participants.The Hangzhou-based company released a video of the test on the same day, showing the robot’s performance. The modified version weighed 62 kilograms, up from 47 kilograms for the standard model, and had components such as the head and hands removed to maximize speed. In August last year, the standard Unitree H1 set a previous speed record of 3.3 meters per second.The speed improvement reflects breakthroughs in power systems, motion control algorithms, and structural design, Zhou Di, an expert from China’s science and technology ministry’s national expert database, told Yicai. Upgrades to high-torque motors provided sufficient power for high-speed running, while iterative improvements in millisecond-level dynamic balance control algorithms, combined with real-time posture feedback from multiple sensors, enabled the robot to maintain stability and avoid falls.The achievement demonstrates that China has reached the forefront of global advancements in bipedal robot motion control and core power technologies, while also validating the engineering feasibility of high-speed humanoid movement, Zhou said. It lays a foundation for the future application of embodied intelligence.Zhou added that extreme motion testing helps refine dynamic balance, adaptability to complex terrains, and instantaneous response capabilities, which are critical for humanoid robots to operate in unstructured environments and transition into commercial use.Zheng Lei, chief economist at Samoyed Cloud Technology Group, said that while the speed breakthrough is an important first step, practical deployment depends on maintaining balance at high speeds, achieving real-time obstacle avoidance, and enabling multi-task coordination.Lei from the fintech company added that precise hand manipulation remains a major limitation in the industry, noting that tasks such as picking up glass shards are still challenging and restrict broader real-world applications.Editors: Dou Shicong, Emmi Laine