Chinese robotics firm MirrorMe Technology has unveiled what it claims is the fastest-running humanoid robot to date, marking a new benchmark in bipedal robotics.

Achieving the feat is Bolt, a full-size humanoid that achieved a peak speed of 10 metres per second during real-world testing.

The firm highlighted the feat makes Bolt the first humanoid robot of its size to reach such velocities outside the lab.

Last year, its Black Panther II stunned audiences by running 100 metres (328 feet) in 13.17 seconds on Chinese TV, reportedly outperforming Boston Dynamics in speed tests.

Robot breaks barriers

Standing 175 centimetres (5.7 feet) tall and weighing 75 kilograms (165 pounds), Bolt reflects MirrorMe Technology’s vision of the humanoid robot’s “ideal form,” combining human-like proportions with performance-focused engineering.

The robot is built around newly designed joints and a fully optimised power system intended to replicate natural human movement while sustaining extreme speeds, reports CNEVPost.

The company said its goal has never been to simply build the world’s fastest robot. Instead, the company aims to develop what it calls “super-species” robots—machines capable of approaching, or even surpassing, human athletic abilities through advanced motion perception and physical performance. Developers describe Bolt’s debut as a breakthrough in humanoid locomotion control, dynamic balance, and high-performance drive systems.

In a promotional demonstration, the founder and institute head Wang Hongtao raced the red, metallic android on treadmills. Video footage shows Bolt taking shorter strides than Wang but compensating with a much faster cadence, reports People’s Daily Online.

China’s growing focus on robotic athletics was also highlighted last August, when Beijing hosted the first World Humanoid Robot Games, where the Tien Kung humanoid won the 100-metre (328-foot) race in 21.5 seconds.

Athletic robots rise

MirrorMe was formally established in May 2024 and is headquartered in Shanghai, with its core team drawn from Zhejiang University, according to the company’s website.

The startup’s current product lineup includes Baobao, Apollo, and the high-performance Black Panther II, which is primarily designed for scientific research applications. MirrorMe says its work builds on nearly a decade of research, noting that since 2016, its team has treated speed as a long-term priority.

According to CNEVPost, the company has focused on pushing the boundaries of robotic athletic performance, exploring how far machines can go in terms of agility, acceleration, and sustained high-speed movement.

In 2025, the company set a quadruped speed record with its Black Panther robot, which exceeded 10 metres per second. Black Panther II also stunned viewers during a live China Central Television broadcast, sprinting 100 metres in a remarkable 13.17 seconds on a Wuhan athletics track.

The robotics firm’s co-founder Jin Yongbin said Black Panther II reached a peak speed of 9.7 metres per second during the race. Reports suggested that it surpasses Boston Dynamics’ WildCat, which a 2020 research paper put at about 8.8 metres per second.

MirrorMe envisions Bolt as a “steel sparring partner” for Chinese athletes, using human-level perception and athletic skill to help them push beyond real-world speed limits, reports Auto News.