Chinese manufacturer Unitree Robotics has launched a humanoid robot named Superman that can jump two meters high from a standstill and reach running speeds of 45 kilometers per hour.
The company published footage demonstrating the machine on social media platform X. Both the vertical leap and the top speed of 12.66 meters per second exceed human world records.
Developers at Unitree said the machine had been in development for just over three months and had significant potential for further improvement in the coming months. They noted that Superman represents a new direction for the firm aimed at exploring extreme dynamic capabilities in robotics.
Superman expands Unitree's existing line of humanoid robotics. The company's earlier models already use artificial intelligence to navigate physical spaces, dance, and perform intricate manual tasks.
Humanoid robotics has become a major focus for Chinese technology manufacturers in recent years, with companies building bipedal systems designed to replicate human movement and work capability. Unitree, based in Hangzhou, China, is among the prominent developers in the sector.
Giant mech production and market dominance
Unitree also recently launched mass production of the GD01, a giant piloted mech robot standing nearly three meters tall. The GD01 can transform to move on either two or four legs, and promotional footage showed the machine punching through a wall of concrete blocks.
The launch comes as Chinese manufacturers consolidate control over the global robotics market. Global shipments of humanoid robots topped 14,500 units last year, with Chinese firms accounting for 90 percent of all deliveries. Unitree led the global market, followed by Chinese competitor AgiBot in second place.
Global competition and future projections
Chief executive Elon Musk has predicted that the global population of humanoid robots will surpass the human population by 2040. However, his electric vehicle maker Tesla continues to lag behind its Chinese rivals in deployment speed.
Tesla delivered roughly 150 units of its Optimus humanoid robot in 2025, leaving it far behind China's high-volume producers.
