Chinese scientists just built the “fastest robot in the world”. Here’s how it differs from Elon Musk’s Optimus Gen-2

Earlier this month, Elon Musk’s Tesla unveiled its do-it-all humanoid Optimus Gen-2. Lest it hog all the spotlight, Chinese scientists have built a new humanoid robot called STAR1 that can reportedly run at a speed of nearly 13 kilometres per hour, making it the fastest of its kind so far.

At first glance, both of their designs appear similar — but that’s where the similarities seem to end, for these humanoids appear to have been built with very different purposes in mind. Here’s a comparison of the two humanoids!

Built different

Tesla’s Optimus Gen-2 stands at 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) and weighs about 125 pounds (57 kg). STAR1 comes off as stout in comparison, being 5 feet 7 inches (171 cm) tall and weighing 143 pounds (65 kg).

Tesla’s Optimus Gen-2 has 28 degrees of freedom, which gives it superior flexibility and a wider range of motion, particularly in tasks that require delicate manipulation and precise movements. STAR1 has 12 degrees of freedom, allowing for moderate flexibility and a relatively humanoid range of motion.

STAR1 wears sneakers, Optimus Gen-2 doesn’t

STAR1 is the latest breakthrough in humanoid robotics, boasting a top speed of about 3.6 metres per second, making it the fastest bipedal robot built so far. However, this speed can be credited to the sneakers it had on. Yes, its creators gave it a pair of sneakers to test its speed on various terrains, from paved roads to gravel, in the Gobi Desert. The results were impressive: STAR1 maintained its top speed for an astonishing 34 minutes. To our knowledge, the Optimus Gen-2 does not own a pair.

In fact, STAR1 even surpassed previous speed records set by Unitree's H1, which managed 12.2 kilometres per hour (3.3 m/s) earlier this year. STAR1's design focuses on mobility, possibly positioning it for future applications in rescue missions, sports, or military operations, where rapid movement across diverse terrains is crucial.

Utility

STAR1's focus on mobility, positions it for future applications in rescue missions, sports or military operations, where rapid movement across diverse terrains is crucial.

Unlike STAR1’s high-speed focus, Optimus Gen-2 is designed with human environments in mind, with AI capabilities that enable it to handle repetitive tasks that require precision and fine motor skills and interact safely with humans. Tesla envisions a future where Optimus replaces humans in mundane or dangerous jobs, contributing to industrial and domestic automation.

AI-driven processing power

On the AI front, STAR1’s 275 TOPS give it the edge in real-time processing, allowing for quick decision-making and terrain adaptability.

Tesla has not disclosed the exact TOPS rating for Optimus, but its AI system is integrated into Tesla’s existing AI architecture, which powers its self-driving cars. Optimus likely has strong AI capabilities, especially in perception and decision-making, focused more on task execution rather than extreme mobility like STAR1.

The difference between STAR1 and Optimus Gen-2 highlights two distinct paths in humanoid robotics. Whether it's racing across risky terrain or helping on factory floors, one thing’s for certain, these machines are paving the way for a new era of automation.