Figure 03 Sprints in New Video, Answering Tesla's Challenge

The pace of development in the humanoid robotics sector is accelerating—literally. Less than 24 hours after Tesla released footage of its Optimus robot hitting a personal speed record, Figure AI has responded with a sprint of its own.

The update came in direct response to a social media challenge. Following Tesla's release of the Optimus video—which analysts estimate showed a speed of roughly 8.5 mph—user Joakim Viskinde tagged Figure founder Brett Adcock on X, stating simply: "Your move."

Adcock accepted the challenge, posting a video of the company’s newest model, the Figure 03, running back and forth at the Figure HQ.

The "Dude in a Suit" Effect

While Tesla's video focused on forward velocity, the Figure 03 video shows the robot executing short shuttle runs, taking several strides before decelerating, turning, and accelerating in the opposite direction.

The fluidity of the movement drew immediate comparisons to biological motion. One observer, X user @Al_Intellius, commented, "That's almost a dude in a suit."

Adcock seized on the comment to highlight the company's progress in actuation and control logic.

The gap between human motion and robotic motion is closing - rapidly and irreversibly. — Brett Adcock, Figure CEO

Like the Optimus update, the Figure 03 video demonstrates a true flight phase, where both feet are momentarily off the ground—the technical definition that distinguishes running from walking. This requires the robot to generate significant vertical impulse and manage dynamic instability, a complex engineering hurdle for bipedal machines.

Comparing the Runners

Direct speed comparisons between the two videos are difficult due to the lack of official telemetry from either company.

• Tesla Optimus: Ran a straight line. Independent pixel analysis suggests a speed of approximately 3.8 m/s.
• Figure 03: Performed shuttle runs with frequent direction changes. No speed data has been released.

Visually, the Figure 03 does not appear significantly slower than Optimus, though the short runway limits its ability to reach top speed. However, the ability to handle the deceleration and acceleration forces required to turn around quickly suggests a robust control system and high-torque actuation.

This agility aligns with the design philosophy behind the Figure 03. Unveiled in October, the robot was a ground-up redesign focused on mass manufacturability and lighter weight materials. The shift to a lighter frame likely contributes to the robot's dynamic capabilities by improving its power-to-weight ratio.

The Speed Race Heats Up

This back-and-forth between Tesla and Figure signals a convergence in the industry. For years, dynamic agility has been the domain of Boston Dynamics and Chinese innovators like Unitree and EngineAI, whose hardware has consistently pushed the envelope on agility, speed and stability.

The latest footage suggests that Figure and Tesla are now rapidly catching up to the athletic benchmarks set by these agility-first competitors. By demonstrating flight-phase running, Adcock and Musk are moving toward a single architecture capable of both delicate manipulation and high-speed locomotion.