China’s Unitree six-foot humanoid robot shows off precise flying kicks

Unitree released the video on Jan. 4 on YouTube on Jan. 4 showcasing the H2’s balance control, collision response, and full-body movement capabilities.

One sequence shows the H2 shattering a watermelon suspended from the ceiling with a 360-degree spinning kick before landing cleanly. The robot also delivered forceful kicks to sandbags weighing 30 kg and 60 kg.

During a running-start flying kick, Wang Xingxing, Unitree’s founder and chief executive, appeared visibly startled and stepped back as the robot closed in.

The H2 is Unitree’s tallest and most advanced humanoid to date, standing nearly 6 feet (180 cm) tall and weighing about 154 pounds (70 kg). It features a silver, human-like face with defined eyes, lips, and a nose, giving it a more expressive appearance, according to Interesting Engineering. The model builds on the company’s earlier H1 humanoid, which drew attention for its speed and agility during China’s 2024 Spring Festival Gala.

Technically, the H2 operates with 31 degrees of freedom and joint output reaching up to 360 Nm of torque. These capabilities are managed by advanced motion control algorithms that allow the robot to reproduce complex movements while maintaining balance and accuracy.

Unitree said the humanoid’s improved gripping and handling capabilities position it for practical use in factories and logistics, with longer-term potential for domestic applications.

Founded in 2016, Unitree Robotics develops both quadruped and humanoid robots for logistics, surveillance, scientific research, and entertainment, and has rapidly commercialized its products across different price ranges.

Earlier this month, the company launched what it called the "world’s first humanoid app store," allowing users to upload robotic actions and datasets and download motion data shared by others.

In December, a separate video showing six of Unitree’s smaller G1 humanoid robots performing as backup dancers at a concert by Taiwanese American pop star Wang Leehom went viral, drawing praise from Tesla Optimus head Elon Musk, who described the performance as "impressive."