Humanoid robot 'attacks' guests when pushed
According to a video posted by account Volgastore64 on Instagram last weekend, a robot came out from inside the store when a customer entered. This person pushed the robot's chest, causing the machine to move backwards.
The robot then threw two consecutive kicks. Two other people tried to control the robot, but were also almost hit by the machine.
The 33-second video currently attracts more than 352,000 likes and 7,000 comments on Instagram. Some re-sharing accounts on Twitter and Facebook also received millions of views, the Boşuna Tıklama Twitter account alone reached 63.5 million views with 194,000 likes, 28,000 shares and more than 3,000 comments.
According to India Times, on social networks, some are worried about humanoid robots becoming increasingly out of control and potentially causing harm, as the frequency of their application in real environments increases. Others question the future of humanity when this type of robot becomes intelligent and highly autonomous.
However, most suspect the robot is remotely controlled or staged. In fact, according to News18, the Instagram account posting the video is a shop specializing in selling technology goods in the city of Saratov (Russia) called Volga Store. This robot is a Unitree G1 model (China) named Sema and often appears in this store's promotional videos.
Volga Store did not respond to requests for comment.
More and more cases of humanoid robots "running riot" have been recorded recently. In early July, the Joko Prabuwesi account posted a video of a Unitree G1 robot continuously performing martial arts moves, then suddenly turning around to attack the operator holding it behind, as well as kicking another person causing him to fall. However, the scene was later confirmed to have been staged.
In June, when "transforming" as a clown, G1 accidentally kicked a boy watching in the stomach at an event in Xinjiang. In May, the robot also had a problem during a performance when it tripped and fell to the ground, lost control and swung its arms and legs wildly. According to NDTV, the technical team behind it said the robot was "confused" because there were too many people around, leading to loss of control.
G1 was launched in May 2024, is 127 cm tall and weighs 35 kg with a starting price of 14,240 USD in the Chinese market. The robot has 23-43 joint motors depending on configuration, with a maximum joint torque of 120 Nm along with a series of advanced sensors, 3D Lidar, RealSense depth camera and noise canceling microphone system for voice control. With a 9,000 mAh battery, the robot can operate for up to two hours and the battery can be replaced quickly. An 8-core processor controls the robot's joint system, allowing flexible movement with a maximum walking speed of about 7.2 km/h.