Video: Unitree’s humanoid claims to outrun Usain Bolt and jump 6.5 feet vertically

Experts say better dynamic movement could help humanoids tackle tough terrain, disasters and hazards.Unitree Robotics/YouTube Unitree Robotics has unveiled a new humanoid robot capable of a 6.5 feet (2-meter) standing vertical jump and attaining a top speed of 41.5 feet per second (12.66 meters per second). The Chinese robotics company said the robot, which has legs just 2.7 feet (0.85 meters) long, was developed in slightly over three months and still has significant room for improvement. A video released by Unitree showed the humanoid completing the jump and landing steadily, highlighting the company’s latest effort to push the limits of robotic athletic performance. Recently, Unitree opened its IPO subscription, pricing shares at $22 to raise roughly $900 million on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Robot breaks records Unitree’s new humanoid robot, dubbed “Superman,” claims it can run at 12.66 meters per second and perform a 2-meter standing vertical jump. The robot’s reported top speed equals about 28.3 mph (45.6 km/h), exceeding the 12.42 m/s peak speed recorded by Usain Bolt during his 2009 100-meter world-record run. Its 2-meter standing jump also surpasses the reported human record of 1.8 meters. Unitree said the robot achieved the performance despite having legs only 0.85 meters long. However, the figures have not been independently verified and are based on a company demonstration video. The Hangzhou-based robotics company said the humanoid was developed in just over three months and that its current hardware still has significant room for improvement. Unitree founder Wang Xingxing had previously predicted that humanoid robots could surpass human sprinting speeds by mid-2026, citing advances in cheaper components and improved algorithms, reports Cryptopolitan. “Surpassing the standing high jump and running speed records of all humans around the world. This new machine has only been in development for a little over three months, with significant room for further improvement in the coming months,” reads the description of the video posted on YouTube. Unitree pushes limits Unitree Robotics is constantly pushing the boundaries of humanoid robot performance. In April, Unitree’s H1 humanoid reached 10 meters per second, approaching Usain Bolt’s peak sprint speed. Tested on an athletics track, the robot reached 10.1 meters per second as it passed a speed-measuring device, although Unitree noted the possibility of measurement errors. The H1 has a combined thigh and calf length of 80 centimeters and weighs about 136 pounds (62 kilograms), roughly comparable to an average human, with captions claiming it achieved world champion-level running speeds. Unitree said on August 12 that it had produced about 18,000 humanoid robots, excluding other humanoid designs and wheeled platforms. Industry analyst Ma Jihua said extreme tests such as high-speed running and jumping act as “stress tests” for a robot’s hardware, software, balance and whole-body coordination, reports the Global Times. Experts said mastering highly dynamic movements could eventually help humanoids operate in difficult terrain, disaster response and other hazardous environments. However, performance records alone do not guarantee practical deployment, with further advances needed in reliability, stability and real-world adaptability. Unitree has also emerged as a major player in the rapidly expanding global humanoid market. Smart Analytics Global data showed the company shipped about 5,900 humanoid robots in the first half of 2026, up 170 percent year-on-year and accounting for 31 percent of global shipments. Unitree has since listed on China’s STAR Market, becoming the first humanoid robotics company to debut on the country’s A-share market. Chinese vendors accounted for more than 97 percent of global humanoid robot shipments during the first half of 2026.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.