Bolt robot hits 22 mph speed record, fastest humanoid robot ever made

A full-sized humanoid robot has run faster than most people can run.

Chinese robotics company MirrorMe Technology has unveiled Bolt, a humanoid robot that reached a top speed of 22 mph during real-world testing. This was not CGI or a computer simulation. The footage, which the company shared on X, shows a real humanoid robot running at full speed inside a controlled testing facility.

This achievement makes Bolt the fastest humanoid robot of its size ever demonstrated outside of computer simulations. For robots, this is the moment of crossing lines.

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The AI ​​robot with warm skin and camera eyes is very scary

MirrorMe Technology’s humanoid robot Bolt reaches speeds of 22 mph during real-world sprint testing inside a controlled facility. (Zhang Xiangye/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

What allows the world’s fastest humanoid robot to run at 22 miles per hour

In the promotional video, playback is demonstrated using split-screen view. On one side of the screen, Wang Hongtao, the founder MirrorMe technology, Runs on a treadmill. On the other hand, Bolt runs under the same conditions. The comparison makes the difference clear. As the pace increases, Wang struggles to keep up and eventually gives up, while Bolt continues to run smoothly, maintaining his balance as his stride rate increases.

Bolt takes shorter strides than a human runner but compensates with a much faster stride cadence. This faster cadence helps the robot remain stable as it accelerates. Engineers say this performance reflects major advances in human motion control, dynamic balance and high-performance drive systems. The speed is impressive. Speed ​​combined with control is the real achievement.

The design of the humanoid robot is based on Bolt’s speed

Bolt stands up He is approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds, making him close to the size and mass of an average adult human. MirrorMe says the similarity is intentional. The company describes this as the ideal human form.

Instead of oversized limbs or exaggerated mechanics, Bolt relies on newly designed joints combined with a fully optimized power system. The goal is to replicate natural human movement while remaining stable at extreme speeds. This combination is what sets the Bolt apart.

Humanoid robots are becoming smaller, safer and closer

MirrorMe says the Bolt’s 22 mph top speed highlights stability and control, not just raw speed. (Cui Jun/Beijing Youth Daily/VCG via Getty Images)

Why does Bolt’s sprint reflect years of robotics development?

Bolt did not appear overnight. MirrorMe has focused on robotic speed as a long-term priority since 2016. Last year, its Black Panther II robot stunned viewers when it ran 328 feet in 13.17 seconds during a live TV broadcast in China. Reports indicated that performance exceeded similar tests involving Boston Dynamics machines.

In 2025, the company also set a record with a four-legged robot that exceeded 22 mph, reinforcing its focus on acceleration, agility and high-speed sustained movement. China’s interest in robotic athletics continues to grow. Beijing even hosted the first World Human Robot Games, where humanoid robots competed in track sprints.

Why MirrorMe says speed is not the ultimate goal

Running at 22mph attracts attention, but MirrorMe says speed alone isn’t the point. The engineers behind the Bolt are more concerned with what happens so quickly. Balance, reaction time and control are more important than just a key number. Those skills are what called us A human-like robot Move like a trained runner rather than a machine about to tip over.

Here comes the role of the sports angle. MirrorMe envisions Bolt as a training partner who can run alongside elite athletes, maintain a steady pace and push the limits without tiring out. By matching and slightly exceeding human performance, the robot can help runners fine-tune form, speed and endurance while collecting precise movement data. In this context, speed racing is not a glamorous feat. It shows how humanoid robots can move beyond demonstrations into real training and performance settings.

What does this mean for you?

Humanoid robots that can operate at highway speeds are no longer something you only see in demos or concept videos. As these machines become faster and more stable, they begin to conform to real-life roles. This includes athletic training, emergency response, and physically demanding jobs where speed and endurance make a real difference. Meanwhile, faster robots raise real concerns. Safety, oversight, and clear rules become even more important when machines can move quickly around people. When robots work so quickly, the boundaries need to be clear.

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Engineers say the Bolt’s high-speed acceleration reflects advances in motion control, balance and steering systems. (Photo by Kevin Fryer/Getty Images)

Key takeaways for Kurt

Running the Bolt at 22 mph is eye-catching, but speed isn’t the main takeaway. What matters is what is shown. Robots are starting to move like humans. They can run, adjust and stay upright at speeds used to hit machines. This opens the door to real uses, but it also raises real questions. How quickly is too fast around people? Who makes the rules? Who is responsible when something goes wrong? Technology moves quickly. The conversation around it should move at the same speed.

if Humanoid robots Could they soon outperform and out-train humans, where should limits be placed on how and where they are allowed to work? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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