{
  "id": 2000742,
  "title": "Unitree’s New Robot Can Sprint Faster Than Usain Bolt, Though the Way It Moves May Give You Nightmares About Demons",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/unitrees-new-robot-can-sprint-faster-than-usain-bolt-though-the-way",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-19T18:53:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/robots-and-machines/unitrees-new-robot-can-sprint-faster-than-usain-bolt"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Unitree unveiled its latest humanoid robot, dubbed “Superman”, boasting athletic feats far exceeding human capabilities. In a thirty-second video, the robot leaped over two meters, surpassing the human standing jump record of 1.7 meters set by Guinness World Records. But Unitree's robot truly excelled in speed, sprinting at a top velocity of 12.66 meters per second during a track test. Even the legendary Usain Bolt's record-breaking 2009 100-meter sprint of 9.58 seconds paled in comparison, with the Jamaican athlete achieving a maximum speed of roughly 12.2 meters per second. Unitree noted that the robot had been under development for only three months, leaving ample room for potential enhancements. However, the peculiar, jerky gait of the robot might evoke unsettling visions of demons. This announcement arrives as Unitree prepares to debut on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, having successfully completed a significant IPO last week, raising over $900 million dollars. The company is also gearing up for the World Humanoid Robot Games in Shanghai, scheduled to commence on August 22. Unitree made quite an impact at last year's inaugural Robot Games, clinching four gold medals in the 100-meter, 400-meter, and 1,500-meter races, as well as the 4x100m relay. It remains unclear whether the “Superman” robot will be part of a new humanoid line or a specialized creation for the competition. Like other Chinese robotics firms, Unitree has employed attention-grabbing stunts to enhance its public image, often showcasing its agile robots performing martial arts. Their acrobatic combat maneuvers astounded the world in a televised production alongside human child performers. The company's robots are undoubtedly among the most dexterous in the world, yet investors remain cautious about whether this will translate into profitable ventures. As Shanghai Zhuozhu Investment Management partner Wang Zhuo points out, while Unitree generates most of its revenue from research and demonstrations, achieving broader applications is still a distant prospect.",
  "summary": "There's no outrunning the machines now. The post Unitree’s New Robot Can Sprint Faster Than Usain Bolt, Though the Way It Moves May Give You Nightmares About Demons appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}