The “Superman” robot pushes human limits, faster than Usain Bolt

Humanoid robots are developing at a rapid pace, with new models gaining capabilities that, until just a few years ago, seemed beyond the reach of machines. They can now walk, run, perform martial arts exercises, and work in industrial environments.

In this technological race, Unitree Robotics has introduced a new humanoid robot called “Superman,” which the company claims can run faster than world record holder Usain Bolt.

According to data published by the company, the robot can reach a maximum speed of 12.66 meters per second. Its legs are around 85 centimeters long, while the humanoid can also perform a vertical jump of approximately two meters.

Unitree claims that “Superman” surpasses human records both in running speed and in standing vertical jump.

For comparison, when Usain Bolt set the 100-meter world record in Berlin in 2009, completing the race in 9.58 seconds, his average speed was around 10.44 meters per second. Bolt, however, reached a higher top speed than his average for a short interval during the race, so a direct comparison with the maximum figure claimed for the robot should be treated with caution.

This is precisely where an important caveat lies. Unitree has not yet provided independent verification of “Superman’s” results. The figures are based on materials and videos published by the company itself, rather than tests conducted under controlled conditions by third parties.

The robot has been in development for just over three months, leaving room for its capabilities to improve further.

The presentation comes several months after Unitree founder and CEO Wang Xingxing predicted that humanoid robots could reach speeds faster than the world’s top athletes by mid-2026.

If the reported results are confirmed through independent testing, “Superman” would represent another significant step in the development of humanoid robots, at a time when artificial intelligence and new control systems are rapidly expanding their physical capabilities and autonomy.

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