A Chinese robotics startup has unveiled a humanoid robot it says can run faster than any similar machine to date, underscoring the rapid pace of development in China’s growing robotics sector as global competition heats up.
The robot, named Bolt, was developed by Mirror Me, a company previously known for producing a high-speed quadruped robotic dog for research applications. According to information released by the company, the humanoid can reach speeds of up to 10 metres per second, or roughly 22 miles per hour, using an artificial intelligence–driven locomotion system.
The performance places the machine close to elite human sprinting levels and well above the typical top speed of an average adult. Bolt is roughly the size and weight of a human, making its running capability notable in a field where maintaining balance and stability on two legs at high speed remains a major technical challenge.
Mirror Me has focused heavily on speed as a way to stand out among a crowded group of Chinese robotics startups. While the company’s earlier quadruped robot can reportedly move even faster, achieving comparable agility in a bipedal form is considered significantly more complex due to the need for precise balance and coordination.
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China’s advances in humanoid robotics echo earlier state-backed pushes into electric vehicles and battery technology, which transformed the country into a global leader in those industries. As firms such as Tesla promote their own humanoid ambitions, Chinese developers are increasingly demonstrating tangible progress, positioning themselves as serious contenders in the emerging global market for advanced robots.
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