Chinese robotics company Unitree has unveiled a new humanoid robot called “Superman,” which it claims can run faster than sprint legend Usain Bolt and jump higher than existing human records.
Unitree claims record-breaking speed
According to Unitree, Superman can reach a top speed of 12.66 meters per second, equivalent to about 45.6 kilometers per hour. The company says this is slightly faster than the peak speed Bolt reached during his world-record 100-meter run in 2009.
Unitree also claims the robot can complete a standing vertical jump of two meters. The company released footage showing Superman running and jumping during a demonstration, although the performance claims have not yet been independently verified.
The Honor Lightning humanoid won all three medals at the Beijing half marathon in April.
Unitree is engineering its comeback. Founder Wang Xingxing has showcased a new prototype, "Superman"
• 28.32 mph top speed, past Usain Bolt's ~27.8 mph.
• 2 meter standing high jump, vs… pic.twitter.com/hi0q85ReqK— The Humanoid Hub (@TheHumanoidHub) August 17, 2026
Robot developed in just months
Unitree says it developed Superman in just over three months and describes the robot as a work in progress, with further upgrades expected in the coming months.
The launch comes at an important time for Unitree as the company prepares to begin trading on Shanghai’s STAR Market. It is expected to become the first general-purpose robotics company to list on mainland China’s stock market.
Unitree attracts strong investor interest
Unitree raised around 6.1 billion yuan, or about $905 million, through its initial public offering, attracting extremely strong investor demand. Reports said the retail portion of the IPO was oversubscribed by more than 8,000 times.
The demand highlights growing interest in China’s humanoid robotics industry. Unitree says it had produced and delivered around 18,000 bipedal humanoid robots across several models by the end of July.
Its robots have already gained attention for dancing, martial arts, racing and other complex movements.
Commercial use remains a challenge
Despite the impressive demonstrations, humanoid robots still face major challenges. Running, jumping and performing stunts do not necessarily translate into useful commercial applications.
Companies must still prove that humanoid robots can operate reliably in factories, homes and service industries. Unitree’s new Superman robot demonstrates how quickly robotic movement is improving, but the bigger test will be whether these machines can move beyond demonstrations and deliver practical value in real-world environments.
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