Robot Era’s demonstration of STAR1 marks a significant step forward in humanoid robotics, emphasizing speed, adaptability, and autonomous movement.
The STAR1 humanoid robot from the Chinese developer Robot Era has made headlines for surpassing the performance of Tesla’s Optimus and Boston Dynamics’ Atlas. STAR1 recently demonstrated its speed and agility by running 8 miles per hour (3.6 meters per second) in the Gobi Desert. This makes it the fastest bipedal robot to date, beating other advanced humanoid competitors.
STAR1 stands 5.6 feet (171 cm) tall and weighs 143 pounds (65 kg). It leverages high-torque motors, AI systems with 275 trillion operations per second (TOPS) processing power, and flexible joints that adapt to varied terrains like sand, gravel, and grass. The robot was tested with two configurations—one wearing sneakers for added performance, which helped it achieve consistent speeds over rugged environments for a 34-minute stretch.
Robot Era’s demonstration of STAR1 marks a significant step forward in humanoid robotics, emphasizing speed, adaptability, and autonomous movement—factors that could soon play a role in household and industrial applications.
Humanoid robots are gaining significant momentum across the globe, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and the need to address challenges like labor shortages and productivity gaps. In 2024, this sector is seeing a surge in development, with companies like Tesla, Boston Dynamics, and Robot Era pushing boundaries in speed, agility, and real-world utility. These robots are being designed to perform tasks traditionally done by humans, making them suitable for roles in healthcare, manufacturing, and even customer service.
