Unitree Robotics, a Chinese company known for its quadruped robot "dogs", has unveiled a new humanoid robot called the Evolution V3 that can reportedly outrun all previous bipedal robots with a blistering top speed of 3.3 m/s (11.9 km/h or 7.4 mph).

The Evolution V3 appears to have dethroned Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot, which previously held the speed record for a humanoid at 2.5 m/s (9 km/h or 5.6 mph). Cassie, a bipedal robot from Agility Robotics built just for legged locomotion, hit 4 m/s (14.4 km/h) in 2022 but is not considered a true humanoid due to lacking an upper body.

In a video posted online, the 1.8m tall, 47kg Evolution V3 can be seen running at an impressive pace on a treadmill, blowing past the typical walking speed of about 5 km/h for the average human. But raw speed is not the robot's only party trick.

The footage also shows the V3 performing a variety of dynamic movements and dance maneuvers with remarkable fluidity and balance. It can jump, pivot, crouch, climb stairs, and execute choreographed routines that require intense coordination between its limbs and torso.

"We designed the Evolution V3 to be exceptionally agile and capable of rapid movement," said Xingxing Wang, CEO of Unitree. "But we also wanted to give it the dexterity to handle complex tasks with precision."

Under the Evolution V3's shell are Unitree's custom-designed M107 electric motors and an Intel RealSense 360° environmental mapping camera. This allows the bot to dynamically sense and react to its surroundings in real-time.

The robot weighs about as much as an adult human and can carry payloads up to 30kg, making it suitable for potential real-world applications like search and rescue, construction, or logistics.

Unitree originally launched its first humanoid called the H1 in December 2022, surprising many who knew the company previously only for its dog-like robots. The Evolution V3 appears to be a refined, higher-performance iteration.

While the robot's speed and dance moves are undeniably impressive technical feats, some roboticists question their practical value beyond being attention-grabbing stunts. Issues like power autonomy, navigation, manipulation skill, and reliability under real-world conditions remain major obstacles.

Nevertheless, Unitree's Evolution V3 represents a significant advance in humanoid robot capabilities. Pricing for the V3 reportedly ranges from $15,000 to $90,000 depending on configuration.

The race to develop advanced humanoid robots with human-like abilities has intensified in recent years. Major tech companies like Boston Dynamics, Tesla, Sanctuary AI, and now Unitree continue leapfrogging each other with robots demonstrating progressively more dynamic and skills. But widespread real-world adoption likely remains years away as the technology matures.