Chinese company Unitree Robotics has unveiled a humanoid robot called Superman that has already managed to surpass the peak speed of legendary sprinter Usain Bolt. There is, however, one small detail: the robot has learned to run extremely fast, but it has not yet completely figured out what to do after reaching top speed.
During testing, Superman reached a maximum speed of 12.66 m/s, while Usain Bolt’s best figure is 12.42 m/s. This refers to the Jamaican sprinter’s peak performance recorded on August 16, 2009, during the World Championships final in Berlin. Between the 60- and 80-meter marks, Bolt covered the distance in 1.61 seconds, reaching an average speed of 12.42 m/s. In other words, the robot has technically already overtaken one of the greatest sprinters in history — at least when comparing peak speed.
Superman’s achievements do not end there. According to Unitree, the robot can jump up to 2 meters high from a standing position, which is quite impressive for a machine designed with a human-like body. However, the video released from the test also demonstrated the downside of the record. Superman successfully accelerated and completed the run, but it failed to brake in time. As a result, the robot crashed into an obstacle at the end of the track at full speed and spectacularly fell over. The scene was rather symbolic: a world record for acceleration — followed by a wardrobe standing in the way as the ultimate physics test.
Unitree says the robot was developed in just over three months, meaning the current results are considered only the beginning of the project. The developers plan to significantly improve the robot’s capabilities in the near future, including its speed, stability and movement control. After all, running fast is certainly useful, but knowing how to stop before hitting a wall is generally considered an equally valuable skill.
Superman is expected to take part in the 2nd World Humanoid Robot Games, which will be held in Beijing from August 22 to 26. For Unitree, the event will provide an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of its new creation in competition with other robots.
Unitree Robotics was founded in Hangzhou in 2016. The company initially specialized in developing four-legged robots, but in late 2023 it entered the commercial humanoid robot market. Today, its portfolio includes four major series of humanoid robots.
As for Usain Bolt, his achievements remain virtually unmatched in human sport. The Jamaican sprinter is an eight-time Olympic champion and the only athlete in history to win both the 100-meter and 200-meter events at three consecutive Olympic Games — in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
So, technically speaking, the Chinese robot is already faster than Bolt. But for now, the sporting duel looks slightly one-sided: Bolt knows how to accelerate, run and stop in time, while Superman is still working on the first half of the program. Still, considering that the robot took only a few months to develop, humanity may have just gained a new competitor. The only thing Unitree needs to worry about is making sure there are fewer wardrobes around when the next record falls.
All content provided on this website (https://wildinwest.com/) -including attachments, links, or referenced materials — is for informative and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. Third-party materials remain the property of their respective owners.