Unitree Unveils "Superman" Robot, Claims to Shatter Human Speed and Jump Records

Key Takeaways

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• Unitree has previewed a new humanoid prototype dubbed "Superman," claiming a top running speed of 12.66 m/s and a standing high jump of 2 meters.
• The stated top speed mathematically surpasses the peak human velocity of 12.42 m/s set by Usain Bolt, fulfilling a bold prediction made by Unitree's CEO earlier this year.
• Visually similar to the modified H1 platform showcased at the Beijing marathon, the new machine has reportedly been in development for just over three months.
• The company stated there is "significant room for further improvement" in the coming months, signaling an ongoing escalation in the robotic locomotion race.

The humanoid speed race may have just reached a historic inflection point. In a brief social media update, Unitree Robotics offered a preview of its new "Superman" robot, a machine designed explicitly to push beyond the physiological limits of human athletes.

According to the company, the "Superman" model has achieved a staggering top speed of 12.66 meters per second (m/s) and executed a standing high jump of 2 meters. Unitree proudly declared that these metrics mean the machine is successfully "surpassing the standing high jump and running speed records of all humans around the world".

Fulfilling the Bolt Prediction

If these performance numbers are independently verified, Unitree has officially bridged the "utility gap" in raw bipedal locomotion. Earlier this year, when Unitree’s speed-focused H1 platform reclaimed the world speed record at 10 m/s, CEO Wang Xingxing controversially predicted that humanoids would outrun Usain Bolt by mid-2026.

At 12.66 m/s (approximately 28.3 mph), the "Superman" robot has eclipsed Bolt's legendary peak human velocity of 12.42 m/s. This represents a massive 26% increase in top speed over the H1’s April benchmark, highlighting an exponential curve in robotic kinematic control and power delivery.

The Hardware: Familiar Form, Explosive Power

Visually, the new machine strongly resembles the "fine-tuned" H1 platform that Unitree entered in the second annual Beijing Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon.

The video captures the robot mid-flight during its 2-meter jump. The image shows the humanoid dynamically suspended in the air, successfully clearing a stacked tower of flight cases positioned next to a measurement chart peaking at 200cm. Despite its immense propulsive power, the robot maintains relatively standard proportions, featuring a reported leg length of just 0.85 meters.

Rapid Iteration Meets Massive Scale

Perhaps the most striking detail in Unitree's announcement is the project's abbreviated timeline. The company claims this "Superman" machine has only been in development for "a little over three months". Furthermore, Unitree's engineering team noted that there is still "significant room for further improvement in the coming months".

This aggressive development cycle underscores Unitree's formidable engineering velocity. The Hangzhou-based manufacturer is currently riding a wave of momentum following its blockbuster $904 million IPO on the STAR Market and its recent milestone of producing 18,000 cumulative bipedal humanoids.

While competitors like AGIBOT currently lead the global market in pure shipment volume through a diverse array of multi-form platforms, Unitree is leveraging the "Superman" project to maintain its reputation as the undisputed leader in raw bipedal athleticism. As the industry increasingly relies on complex AI models to translate reasoning into physical action—a focus reinforced by Unitree's recent partnership with DeepSeek—the ability to rapidly iterate highly dynamic, ultra-capable hardware will remain a critical foundational advantage.