The Robot Era has once again captured the attention of tech enthusiasts with a new stunt. After previously showcasing its XBot-L humanoid robot strolling along the Great Wall of China, the company has now released footage of two Star1 models racing across the Gobi Desert.
The latest video features two Star1 humanoid robots racing through diverse and challenging terrain in the Gobi Desert. The robots are seen navigating rocky paths, grassy fields, and winding roads with impressive agility. One robot runs “bare-footed,” while the other is outfitted with sneakers, which play a crucial role in determining the winner of the race.
The Star1 humanoid wearing sneakers initially trailed behind but soon made up the distance, eventually taking the lead. According to Robot Era, the sneaker-clad Star1 reached speeds of up to 8 mph (3.6 meters per second) and maintained its lead for a solid 34 minutes. This race underscores the Star1’s ability to handle uneven terrain with ease and adaptability.
Standing at 5.6 ft (1.71 meters) tall and weighing 143 pounds (65 kg), the Star1 humanoid is built for both speed and stability. Its unique gait likened to the comical “Ministry of Silly Walks” sketch from Monty Python, enables it to move efficiently while keeping its posture upright. The race showcases not only the robots’ capabilities but also their capacity for real-world applications.
Robot Era’s Star1 humanoids are powered by cutting-edge technology, allowing them to perform impressively in various environments. Each Star1 model is equipped with a proprietary 295-lb.ft (400-Nm) motors that include precision planetary reducers, high-precision encoders, and drivers. This motor system ensures smooth and efficient movement, crucial for navigating the rugged terrain of the Gobi Desert.
Additionally, these humanoids feature high-speed communication modules, allowing them to process and respond to environmental data in real time. With an AI computing capacity of up to 275 trillion operations per second (tops), the robots can perceive their surroundings and adjust to varying terrains without losing balance or speed.
The Robot Era emphasized that this desert race was a test of the robots’ real-world adaptability. “This test run will pave the way for our robots to be deployed in several scenarios,” the company stated. Whether it’s household tasks or industrial applications, Robot Era’s goal is to introduce general-purpose humanoid robots powered by AI into everyday life.
Although Robot Era is a relatively new player in the humanoid robotics space, the company is already making waves. Incubated by Tsinghua University in August 2023, Robot Era has rapidly developed multiple advanced humanoid robots, including a model featuring a highly dexterous, human-like hand.
The Gobi Desert race and previous promotional videos have effectively drawn attention to the company’s innovations. However, the competition in the humanoid robot market is intense. Companies such as Tesla, Figure, Unitree, and Fourier are all racing to develop humanoid robots designed for household and workplace tasks.
