- Unitree's Superman robot reportedly sprinted at 12.6 m/s, faster than Usain Bolt's peak speed of 12.4 m/s during the World Humanoid Robot Games.
- During the World Humanoid Robot Games, a humanoid robot ran superfast, failed to stop in time, and crashed into the safety wall, with the impact so strong that the robot, in a way, died.
- In a viral video, the humanoid robot, likely one from Unitree, is seen sprinting with almost perfect coordination, but it failed to stop when the track ran out and crashed into the safety wall.
- Earlier this week, Unitree became the first humanoid robot maker to go public in mainland China, with other robotic companies like Leju Robotics and Deep Robotics preparing for IPOs.
- In a clip from the run, the Superman robot faced a similar problem in trying to stop, hitting two containers near the wall and collapsing on the ground, highlighting that humans are still better at slowing down.
A humanoid robot preparing for the 2026 World Humanoid Robot Games suffered a dramatic malfunction during a running test, crashing into a wall and nearly splitting in half. The incident, which sent sparks flying, was captured on video and has since gone viral.
Footage shows the robot attempting to maintain its pace before veering off course and colliding with the barrier. The impact caused significant mechanical failure, leaving the robot looking as though it had folded in half. This incident highlights the challenges developers face in teaching humanoid robots to perform basic human movements, particularly in maintaining balance while running.
The World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in China, will feature 50 competitions with 666 teams from 16 countries. This year's event marks a significant expansion from the inaugural Games held in Beijing in 2025. While the malfunction is unlikely to represent the capabilities of all competing machines, it underscores the difficulties faced when robots are pushed beyond controlled environments.
In a remarkable contrast, Unitree's Superman robot reportedly achieved a speed of 12.6 m/s, surpassing Usain Bolt's peak speed of 12.4 m/s during his 2009 world-record run. However, the Superman robot also faced challenges in stopping, hitting containers before collapsing.15
The growing interest in humanoid robotics is evident, although it remains uncertain whether these competitions can achieve a following comparable to the Olympic Games. The viral crash may have inadvertently drawn more attention to the upcoming event, despite not being the performance its developers had envisioned.
“The crash occurred as the robot failed to stop after sprinting at 12.6 m/s, surpassing Bolt's peak speed of 12.4 m/s. Unitree, the likely maker, became the first humanoid robot company to go public in mainland China this week.”
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