The guardian robot can lift cars and disarm attackers

According to Interesting Engineering, Unitree Robotics company based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, launched the H2-Twitter humanoid robot designed to handle emergency situations, including dealing with armed attackers and rescuing people in distress. In the promotional video, the robot neutralizes a knife-wielding intruder, breaks down a car door, lifts a vehicle to rescue a trapped victim, and pulls a pedestrian away from an oncoming vehicle.

The birth of H2-Twitter marks Unitree's efforts to expand the practical applications of robots beyond entertainment and demonstration. However, the company provided very few details about the new robot's technical specifications, commercialization capabilities, and launch time.

H2-Twitter is a guardian robot, developed based on the existing H2 humanoid robot platform. Unitree's current H2 robot line is about 1.8 meters tall and weighs 70 kg. The previous version had 31 degrees of freedom and a maximum leg joint torque of 360 newton-meters, the company said.

Degrees of freedom indicate the number of independent movements a robotic system can perform. In humanoid robots, these movements allow different joints to coordinate actions such as walking, rotating the body, balancing, and grasping objects.

Joint torque is equally important as it is the parameter that determines the rotational force a motor can use. However, it is not possible to rely solely on the maximum torque of the joint to determine the weight the robot can lift, carry or move under different operating conditions.

Unitree has not confirmed whether the H2-Twitter retains the same H2 specifications or uses tweaked actuators, joints, sensors or control systems. The company said the new robot model can stand for about eight hours, but did not provide further details on battery capacity, energy consumption or endurance during demanding tasks. They also have not announced a release date or price, raising questions about product delivery and target customers.

A key technical issue is whether H2-Twitter can detect threats and respond independently. Although the promotional video depicts the robot intervening in situations, Unitree does not explain how it detects people, identifies potential dangers, plans its movements, or decides on actions. They did not disclose whether the robot relied on remote control, pre-programmed sequences of operations, automatic decisions or a combination of methods.

These differences are important for a machine that operates around humans. Responding to a sudden attack or getting someone out of a vehicle requires more than just physical strength. The robot needs to analyze the changing environment, coordinate movements and avoid causing further damage.

At the end of the video, Unitree recommends keeping a safe distance of at least 2-3 meters from the robot. H2-Twitter's performance in emergency situations outside the scenario and its readiness for actual deployment are still big questions. When contacted by SCMP, the company's representative refused to provide further details and shared "everything depends on the official announcement video".

H2-Twitter's launch comes as Unitree and its competitors face increasing investor scrutiny, requiring a clear roadmap to achieve sustainable revenue growth, overcome technological barriers and develop a viable implementation plan. The company's shares are down about 39% from the price reached in its listing on Shanghai's Star market in August.