Unitree Robot has unveiled a new humanoid robot capable of jumping 2 meters high from a standing position and reaching a top speed of 12.66 meters per second. Despite having legs only 0.85 meters long, the robot has surpassed human records in both jumping and running, the company told the Global Times.

Unitree said the completely new robot was developed in just over three months, adding that there is still significant room for further improvement in the coming months.

According to a video provided by Unitree to the Global Times, the robot landed steadily after completing a two-meter-high jump.

This is the latest achievement by the Chinese robotics company, which has been pushing the boundaries of human physical performance this year.

In April, the Unitree H1 humanoid robot set a world record by reaching a running speed of 10 meters per second, approaching the top speed of sprinting legend Usain Bolt. Unitree’s new “superhuman” robot has now pushed the limits even further, surpassing human capabilities in both speed and jumping performance.

Unitree Robotics announced on August 12 that it had produced approximately 18,000 humanoid robots to date. This figure includes only bionic bipedal humanoid robots and excludes other types of humanoid robots and models based on wheeled platforms.

Technology industry veteran and analyst Ma Jihua explained that such extreme performance trials are essentially a form of “stress testing” for the robot’s core hardware and software. They push capabilities such as running, jumping, explosive power and balance control to their limits in order to determine the system’s actual performance boundaries.

Much like extreme testing of vehicles or aircraft, understanding these limits is essential before a robot can be reliably deployed in real-world environments.

Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Zhongguancun Modern Information Consumer Application Industry Technology Alliance, said that such extreme motion tests place exceptionally high demands on robot stability and whole-body coordination.

Whether a robot is running at high speed or performing a two-meter standing jump, it must coordinate numerous joints in real time and remain stable after landing without losing balance or sustaining damage. This requires close integration between mechanical design, drive systems and AI-based control algorithms.

According to Xiang, the ability to maintain stability during highly dynamic movements will be particularly important for the future deployment of robots in unpredictable environments. The more agile robots become, and the better they can adjust their posture and movement in real time, the more suitable they will be for operating on difficult terrain, supporting disaster-response operations and working in other dangerous or complex environments.

As global competition in robotics intensifies, particularly amid U.S. technology restrictions on China, the development of cutting-edge technologies and the strengthening of domestic innovation are becoming increasingly important.

At the same time, technological advances are bringing robots ever closer to everyday applications. Their ability to operate effectively in complex real-world environments is therefore becoming one of the key areas of global competition in robotics.

Ma emphasized that progress in humanoid robotics is built on gradual technological breakthroughs. A single record does not mean that all the challenges of practical deployment have been solved. However, continuous improvements in key capabilities can ultimately lead to broader advances across the entire system, enabling humanoid robots to move beyond laboratory demonstrations toward more demanding and practical applications.

According to data published on August 10 by California-based research company Smart Analytics Global, Unitree ranked second worldwide in the first half of 2026. Its shipments increased by 170% year-on-year to approximately 5,900 units, representing around 31% of the global market.

Unitree Robotics is already listed on China’s STAR Market, making it the first humanoid robotics company to enter China’s A-share market. Its initial public offering price was 150.80 yuan, equivalent to approximately US$22.38 per share.

According to industry data, Chinese manufacturers accounted for more than 97% of all global humanoid robot shipments in the first half of 2026.

Source: Global Times