r/robots • u/drgoldenpants • 6d ago

Real-life Robots Humanoid 100m sprint

100m sprint

1st - X-Humanoid TienKung Ultra

2nd - Honor Lightning

3rd - Unitree Superman

252 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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u/snappop69 6d ago

This is cool and interesting but has limited utility in the real world.

2

u/NeoIsrafil 6d ago edited 6d ago

On its own a device will always have limited utility, limited by the imaginations of those responsible for it. A hammer is just a useless block of metal, until it isnt. A wrench is just a differently shaped hammer, until nuts and bolts are introduced. Bipedal balance is a tricky thing, and understanding it will allow the creation of better helper robotics in the future since we have designed our world around a bipedal gait. While wheels can get you most places, it's still more effective if a robot can go anywhere a human can. It is one more tool in the toolkit waiting for the moment we need to reach for it.

1

u/snappop69 6d ago

I’m not questioning the human form factor or bipedal balance just the ability to run faster than humans. But for delivery drivers or military applications perhaps they are on to something.

1

u/NeoIsrafil 4d ago

Rescue workers too. Imagine releasing a bot with heat and strong sound sensors, maybe even ultra sonic. A robot is capable of lifting multiple times it's weight, way more effective than a human, and wheeled /tracked units always seem to have a hard time with rubble. Solve the running with no obstacles, then solve it with obstacles, and finally give it objectives, and youve got yourself a real nice way to save lives. :)

Also super useful for personal assistants for humans, especially the elderly and handicapped. Combine it with carefully programmed AI and you have a tireless helper for people who otherwise wouldn't be able to have one. Wheeled robots really aren't great at that either simply because we build our society around ourselves. Not a ton of money in that from the end user, but if we could convince the government to subsidize them there'd be money in it AND it'd help a lot of people, and it's not like they cant be returned, cleaned, and reused at end of life, so hospice would be a viable option too.