Once, only humans had the privilege of seeing their names and personal world records printed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
However, with the advent of robots, humans have been joined by creations like Unitree H1, which has now broken the record for the fastest humanoid robot.
In a video, the Chinese robot is seen moving at 3.3 meters per second, equivalent to 11.8 km/h. This surpasses the previous record holder, Boston Dynamics' Atlas, which can move at 2.5 meters per second, equating to 9 km/h.
For context, the average recreational runner, across genders, runs at about 10.1 km/h on a 5-kilometer run, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. The global average time for human marathon runners is around 4 hours and 21 minutes.
The recorded speed of the H1 means that, in theory, it could run a marathon in 3.5 hours - nearly an hour shorter.
A video released by Unitree Robotics shows the new record-holder reaching its top speed of 11 km/h and also reveals H1's abilities to dance, jump, and navigate stairs.
Technological Marvels and Future Prospects
The H1 robot is 1.85 meters tall, weighs 47 kilograms, and can navigate its surroundings thanks to a combination of two 360-degree cameras and a series of sensors embedded in its head. The cameras construct an image of H1's surroundings, while the sensors emit laser pulses to gauge the distance to objects, like a chair and its dimensions. The robot's brain is an advanced microprocessor that continuously gathers and analyzes output from these devices.
Humanoid robots are intended to assist humans in various fields.
They can collect data for research in environments that are dangerous or inaccessible to humans.
Their human-like skills also enable them to perform tasks such as cleaning and transporting heavy items back and forth in places like hospitals.
If you want your own H1 robot, you'll need to arm yourself with patience and money.
Unitree Robotics expects to launch their speedy robot within three to ten years, and the Chinese robot manufacturer estimates the price will be between $87,000 and $145,000.
