China’s Unitree, behind world’s first kip-up humanoid robot, delays household models over safety concerns

"It’s not easy to predict exactly how long it would take, [but] I think it wouldn’t happen in the next two or three years," founder and CEO Wang Xingxing said at a government event in Beijing last week.

Wang, who established Unitree in 2016, told Chinese government-affiliated media outlets that household-use humanoid robots would come after industrial versions, citing the need to "consider more safety issues," according to the South China Morning Post.

Unitree's current clients are mostly Chinese universities, government agencies, and businesses in sectors such as media, energy, firefighting, and education.

Earlier this month, Shanghai's Tongji University purchased 10 H1-2 robots and accessories including cameras and lidar sensors for a total of 8.25 million yuan (US$1.14 million), marking Unitree’s largest deal to date.

Unitree's humanoid robot. Photo from Instagram

Despite its industrial success, Unitree’s household performance has drawn criticism.

A viral video by Chinese influencer Zhang Genyuan earlier this month showed a Unitree G1 robot clumsily cracking eggs and spilling milk while assisting in a kitchen.

Meanwhile, competitors are making more polished progress.

Shenzhen-based Dobot recently introduced the Dobot Atom, a household robot that can serve breakfast by placing toast, lettuce, and cherries on a plate, and pouring a cup of milk.

The Atom, priced at 199,000 yuan (US$27,500), is available for pre-order, with mass production expected to begin in mid-2025.

Unitree gained national attention in January when its 1.8-meter-tall H1 robots performed a folk dance on the state broadcaster’s Spring Festival Gala, China’s most-watched television event.

Its 1.3-meter-tall G1 model recently became the world’s first humanoid robot to perform a kip-up. It also demonstrated Tai Chi techniques and maintained balance after being kicked from behind.

Days earlier, the G1 drew headlines for executing a successful side flip, a feat considered more difficult than the backflip completed by the H1 model.

 

 

China’s Unitree, behind world’s first kip-up humanoid robot, delays household models over safety concerns

Robot hình người đầu tiên có thể 'bật tôm'