China’s Unitree 1.8m humanoid robot knocks out rival bot in boxing bout

In a demonstration video released Dec. 3, the H2 robot, which stands at 1.8m tall and weighs 70kg, spars with the G1, a 1.3m-tall robot weighing 35kg. A single knee strike from the H2 was powerful enough to lift the G1 off the ground.

The H2, Unitree's tallest and most advanced humanoid, features a silver, stylized human face with defined eyes, lips, and a nose, giving it a human-like appearance, according to Interesting Engineering. The robot’s movement is powered by 31 degrees of freedom and a 360 Nm joint torque, enabling it to execute dynamic movements with precision. Its advanced motion control algorithms allow for complex actions, mimicking human abilities.

A major upgrade in the H2 is its newly designed, dexterous hands, which provide nuanced gripping and handling. This enhances the robot's potential for use in tasks such as factory work, logistics, and even domestic environments.

Unitree, based in Hangzhou, has gained global attention through viral videos and impressive agility tests. The company also secured the most gold medals at China’s first World Humanoid Robot Games earlier this year, CNET reported.

The company is also exploring teleoperation technology for its humanoid robots, allowing human operators to remotely control the robot using a wearable rig.