Step aside, Atlas: A new bipedal bot reportedly laid claim to the world’s fastest full-sized humanoid machine. According to the Shanghai-based startup, Unitree Robotics, its H1 V3.0 now clocks in at 7.38 mph while gingerly walking along a flat surface. With the previous Guinness World Record set at 5.59 mph by the Boston Dynamics robot, H1’s new self-reported achievement could be a pretty massive improvement. If that weren’t enough, if pulled off its new feat while apparently wearing pants. (Or, more specifically, chaps.)
[Related: OpenAI wants to make a walking, talking humanoid robot smarter.]
In a new video, Unitree’s H1 can also be seen trotting across a park courtyard, lifting and transporting a small crate, jumping, as well as ascending and descending stairs. It also can perform a choreographed, TikTok-esque dance troupe routine—basically an industry requirement, at this point. It’s also wearing pants, for some reason.
At 71-inches tall, H1 is about as tall as an average human, although considerably lighter at just 100 pounds. According to Unitree, the robot utilizes both a 3D LiDAR sensor alongside a depth camera to supply 360-degree visual information. One other interesting feature in H1’s overall design is its hollow torso and limbs, which house all of the bot’s electrical routing. Although it currently doesn’t currently include articulated hands (they sort of look like wiffle balls at the moment), Unitree is reportedly developing the appendages to integrate into future versions.
Alongside its quadrupedal B1 robot, Unitree aims to take on existing competitors like Boston Dynamics by offering potentially more affordable products. H1’s current estimated price tag is somewhere between $90,000 and $150,000—that’s likely more than most people are willing to shell out for a robot (even a world record-holder) but with Atlas rumored to cost
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