Tested on a running track, the robot recorded a speed of 10.1 m/s as it passed by the speed measuring device, although the company noted a potential measurement error. The H1 has a combined leg and foot length of 80 centimeters and weighs about 62 kilograms, comparable to an average human. Its description claims it has achieved a running speed at the level of a world champion.
Last week, Unitree revealed plans for the global launch of its affordable, sports-ready humanoid R1 priced at $4,000 via AliExpress, targeting North America, Europe, Japan, and Singapore.
Unitree demonstrated its humanoid robot H1 sprinting on a running track, where the speed measuring device recorded 10.1 meters per second, though the company acknowledged a potential measurement error. In a video shared on YouTube by Unitree Robotics, the robot is described as having a human-like physique and simultaneously achieving a running speed at world champion level. Its total leg length is 0.8 meters, and it weighs about 62 kilograms.
These performances approach the average speed of approximately 10.44 meters per second set by Usain Bolt during his men's 100-meter world record of 9.58 seconds back in 2009. The company indicated that humanoid robots could potentially break the 10-second barrier in the 100-meter race by mid-2026, reports Global Times (GT).
At the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, the Tien Kung Ultra robot, developed by the National and Local Center for Embodied AI Innovation in Robotics, won the 100-meter race in 21.50 seconds, surpassing competing H1 robots. The same robot also completed the first world humanoid robot half-marathon in approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes in April 2025.
Meanwhile, in February 2026, MirrorMe introduced a full-sized humanoid robot named Bolt. Standing 175 centimeters tall and weighing 75 kilograms, it is capable of reaching a maximum running speed of 10 meters per second, highlighting the rapid progress in humanoid robot mobility, reports GT.
In March 2024, Unitree's humanoid H1 V3.0 Evolution set a Guinness World Record as the fastest full-sized humanoid robot. The video shows it achieving a walking speed of 3.3 m/s on flat ground, which the company attributes to an advanced drive assembly enabling high speed and flexibility. The previous record was held by Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot with a speed of 2.5 m/s.
The robot is powered by portable and high-torque motors, driven by a 15 Ah battery with a capacity of 0.863 kWh. The humanoid is equipped with advanced perception systems, including a camera and a 3D LiDAR sensor, enabling it to interpret and navigate its environment. Its mechanical design includes five degrees of freedom in each leg and four in each arm, allowing for flexible and stable movement.
According to Unitree Robotics, the first version of their H1 humanoid could walk at a speed of 1.51 m/s, matching a typical human pace. Promotional videos show the robot maintaining stability even when struck while moving and consistently regaining balance after each disturbance.
The second humanoid robot half-marathon will be held on April 19. Prior to the event, more than 70 teams conducted overnight trial runs on the track at the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone. Analysts expect more humanoid robots to compete simultaneously.