What was supposed to be a “cool tech showcase” on March 21 turned into something else entirely when a humanoid bot spun too close to the crowd and hit a child in the face. Not part of the choreography. But what actually went down and how does something like this even happen? Let’s break it down.
The moment things went wrong
The incident took place in Shaanxi province, China. The robot was performing inside a cordoned-off-area, spinning, kicking, and doing what it was designed to do. Until it drifted toward the edge of the space. Arms out. Still moving. And in one quick motion, it struck a young boy standing nearby, leaving people who appeared to be his parents and onlookers in shock.
Handlers rushed in and tried to pull the robot away. But it did not immediately stop. It kept moving, still attempting to perform even as they tried to regain control.
The robot behind the incident
The machine involved in this viral moment is believed to be a G1 humanoid robot from Unitree Robotics. That’s a 77-pound robot with advanced sensors, 23 degrees of freedom in its joints. First introduced in May 2024, it is designed to walk, dance, and interact with objects. It also uses artificial intelligence for development of its movements and responses.
The robot starts at around $13,500 and is part of a new wave of robots being pushed into demos, events, and commercial spaces.
With a height of 130cm (about 4’3”) tall, the G1 is agile and more flexible than a human being, according to Unitree, which attributes the flexibility to a network of 23 to 43 high-torque joint motors throughout its body. But that same flexibility becomes a liability without robust proximity sensors or a kill switch within reach.
Other times things have gone wrong with robots
There have been other cases where Unitree robots have had some off-script moments lately. Shortly before this incident, another robot from the company reportedly kicked its handler while mimicking movements.
And there was that one in Macau that startled an elderly woman badly enough that authorities had to intervene.
But robot mishaps aren’t limited to Unitree. Earlier this month, another humanoid robot at a Haidilao hotpot restaurant in San Jose lost control during a performance. It slammed its hand onto a table, knocking cutlery and sauce into the air.
Robots in the food industry, in general, have racked up a bad reputation, with numerous headlines of them going rogue. Only days ago, two separate ones crashed into glass bus shelters in Chicago, leaving the city wondering whether the robots are actually valuable or are nuisances disguised as public benefits.
Whatever your take is, one thing is clear: the margin for error with robots is getting smaller. If robots are going to interact with the public, control systems and safety measures need to keep up with the performance. As an online spectator pointed out, “it really hurts to be hit by metal.”
Sources: New York Post, ABC 7