BEIJING: Chinese scientists have developed the fastest running humanoid robot, known as STAR1, which can achieve a top speed of just over 8 miles per hour (mph) or 3.6 meters per second (m/s).
This makes STAR1 the speediest machine of its kind built to date, although these speeds were only achieved with the help of special footwear. Created by the Chinese company Robot Era, STAR1 is a bipedal robot standing 5 feet 7 inches (171 centimeters) tall and weighing 143 pounds (65 kilograms).
In a promotional video, a competition was held between two STAR1 robots, with one model equipped with sneakers to test whether this would enhance its speed in the Gobi Desert in northwestern China. The footwear-equipped STAR1, powered by high-torque motors and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, successfully navigated various terrains, including grassland and gravel. While jogging on paved roads and dirt, STAR1 maintained its top speed for 34 minutes.
With a peak speed of 8 mph, STAR1 surpasses the previous record holder, Unitree’s H1 robot, which reached 7.4 mph (3.3 m/s) in March 2024. However, it is worth noting that while STAR1 utilized footwear to help in its running, the H1 robot was not technically jogging or running, as its feet did not leave the ground simultaneously during movement.
