Usain Bolt has long been regarded as the fastest man on Earth, with his iconic 100-metre world record of 9.58 seconds still standing. However, a new Chinese humanoid robot has attracted global attention after its maker claimed that it can move faster than the Jamaican sprint legend.
The robot, named “Superman”, has been developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree. According to the company, the machine was developed in just three months and is still undergoing further development. Despite that, its reported performance has already generated considerable interest online.
Unitree claims Bolt could cover around 12.42 metres per second at his peak speed, while the Superman robot can reportedly travel at approximately 12.66 metres per second. Based on those figures, the machine could potentially cover 100 metres faster than Bolt. However, such a comparison does not represent an officially recognized athletic record, as the robot and human sprint under completely different conditions.
The robot has also demonstrated impressive jumping ability. It can reportedly leap up to two metres in a single jump, bringing it closer to the world’s leading high-jump performances. The men’s high-jump world record stands at 2.45 metres, set by Javier Sotomayor, while Yaroslava Mahuchikh holds the women’s record at 2.10 metres.
Unitree has recently gained prominence in China’s rapidly expanding robotics industry. The company has reportedly generated around $905 million in revenue and is preparing for a listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
With thousands of bipedal robots already produced, Unitree’s latest Superman demonstration has further highlighted the rapid progress of humanoid robotics.
