In anticipation of a historic moment for the Chinese robotics industry, Unitree Robotics has presented its latest humanoid robot prototype to the public, dubbed 'Superman'. The presentation took place on Monday, just two days before the company's stock trading begins on the Shanghai STAR Market. This event marks the beginning of an era where Unitree will become the first general-purpose robot manufacturer to go public in China, already sparking huge excitement among investors.
Record Performance and Technical Specifications
According to official data cited by Reuters and confirmed by technical reports, the new Unitree robot was developed in a short timeframe — just over three months. Despite its status as an unfinished prototype, the device demonstrated impressive physical capabilities. During testing, the robot managed to perform a vertical jump from a standstill to a height of two meters, placing it on par with the best high jump athletes. Furthermore, on a horizontal surface, the machine reached a maximum speed of 12.66 m/s, equivalent to approximately 45.6 km/h. For comparison, this figure exceeds the average sprint speed of the legendary Usain Bolt.
Financial Success and Record IPO Demand
The robot's presentation coincided with the peak of interest in Unitree's Initial Public Offering (IPO). Last week, the company successfully raised 6.1 billion yuan (about $905 million). Demand from private investors was colossal: it exceeded the offering volume by more than 8,000 times, setting an absolute record for the STAR Market, created specifically to support tech startups. Influential tech giants Tencent, Alibaba, and DeepSeek have already backed the startup, adding confidence in the company's long-term potential.
Context: World Conference and Production Scale
The start of Unitree's stock trading in Shanghai is synchronized with the opening of the World Robotics Conference in Beijing, highlighting the strategic importance of the event for the global industry. The company already has significant experience in producing humanoid machines capable of running, dancing, and performing martial arts elements. As of the end of July 2026, Unitree reported the production and delivery of about 18,000 robots of various models, indicating the scaling of technologies from lab prototypes to the mass market.
Contradictory Data
Despite impressive demonstration figures, there are nuances in interpreting the robot's current capabilities. On the one hand, press releases and media reports (such as Startup Fortune and BeInCrypto) emphasize that the robot 'outran Usain Bolt', creating an image of a product ready for commercial use. On the other hand, Unitree itself emphasizes that the 'Superman' robot design remains unfinished. Engineers note that in the coming months, the device may receive additional improvements and refinements, meaning that current speed and jumping figures are the result of prototype lab tests, not the final factory version.
