The Moment a Child Approached, a Kick to the Stomach... What Happened with the Martial Arts Performance Robot

Chinese Humanoid Robot G1 Strikes Human

Impact Comparable to a 10-Kilogram Sack of Rice

At an amusement park in China, a humanoid robot demonstrating martial arts accidentally struck a kindergarten boy in the abdomen.

According to Yonhap News on June 5, a martial arts performance featuring a humanoid robot was recently held at an amusement park in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China. In China, events where various moves are programmed into humanoid robots and showcased have recently been gaining popularity.

A robot demonstrating martial arts moves struck the abdomen of a boy watching. Douyin capture

During the performance, as a large crowd gathered, a kindergarten boy leaned in close to the robot and was struck in the abdomen by the robot's foot while it was executing a spinning kick. The impact caused the child to immediately clutch his stomach in pain and crouch down.

A video capturing the moment the robot struck the child’s abdomen quickly spread through social media. According to local media outlets such as Sohu.com, the robot in question was identified as the 'G1' from the Chinese startup Unitree.

The kicking force of the G1 is about 100 newtons, which is comparable to the impact delivered by a 10-kilogram object.

Experts pointed out that this level of force can cause severe pain to young children and, in some cases, may lead to internal organ damage. However, fortunately, the child was reportedly not seriously injured.

A robot deviating from the designated route and colliding with a person outside the track during the China Robot Olympics last May. Online community capture

Although humanoid robots like the G1 can perform complex and sophisticated movements according to their programming, they are still considered lacking in their ability to recognize and avoid sudden changes in their surroundings or unexpected situations in real time.

Previously, in March, the G1 was involved in another incident at a festival in Shanxi Province, where it injured a child by swinging its arm while performing a dance routine.

Additionally, at the world's first 'Robot Olympics' held in China last May, there was an incident where a robot deviated from its track during operation and collided with a spectator outside the track.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.