Unitree Robotics, the Chinese company that first gained global attention for its agile robot dog and viral video, has unveiled a humanoid with new boxing skills.
Unitree, which dominated the medal count at China's first World Humanoid Robot Competition, is leaving no stone unturned to advance the humanoid field.
The latest addition to the company's next-generation humanoid product line is the H2 model.
In a recent demonstration, the company's 6-foot humanoid robot demonstrated its powerful operation by performing aggressive moves such as punches, kicks, and knee strikes.
Interestingly, this robot was powerful enough to destroy some of its opponents, which were small G1 model humanoids developed by Unitree himself.
Boxing skills and mobility
The company is well known for developing robots with extremely high maneuverability and resilience.
Models like the G1 and H1 have appeared in viral clips showcasing balance and control algorithms that instantly recover from kicks and falls.
Earlier on October 13, Unitree G1 humanoids demonstrated balance and control, performing complex movements such as backflips and somersaults, often using their hands for support.
Additionally, G1 performed a full routine of quick and precise movements, including spins, punches, quick kicks, one-legged balances, and low sweeps, cementing his reputation for extreme agility.
The new video, released on December 3, showcases the H2 robot's sheer strength, including a sparring session with the smaller G1 robot, where a single knee strike was enough to knock G1 off the ground.
Advanced built-in algorithms
H2 is Unitree's tallest and most advanced humanoid to date, standing nearly 6 feet (180 cm) tall and weighing 154 pounds (70 kg).
In particular, the robot features a stylized silver human face with distinct eyes, lips, and nose, giving it an appearance that closely mimics human facial expressions.
The robot will replace the popular H1, known for its speed, during the 2024 Chinese New Year celebrations.
The H2 robot's knockout power grabs the headlines, but the real innovation lies in the less visible technical details.
The robot's motion is achieved by massive power, including 31 degrees of freedom (DOF) and 360 N·m of joint torque. Motion control algorithms are the brains of robots and can accurately reproduce complex and dynamic movements.
Additionally, the H2 has undergone significant upgrades and features a newly designed dexterous hand. The arm has been upgraded to feature a full 7 degrees of freedom, an advancement from the 4-DOF of previous models.
This human-like joint motion shifts the robot's focus from simple locomotion and running to complex manipulation tasks. The H2 is therefore made for workers with the delicate grip and handling required in factories, logistics and ultimately at home.
Another important detail is reportedly a glimpse of Unitree's remote control system.
While autonomous control is the ultimate goal, remote control using a human operator, or “teleoperation,” is becoming an important bridging technology.
Unitree has developed the following systems. Allow people to wear control rigs and use devices such as Apple Vision Pro Remotely control the robot in real time.
The ability of robots to match human-like precision is rapidly advancing. In a recent video, a figure humanoid robot demonstrated advanced locomotion capabilities by achieving a human jogging pace.
The footage highlights how the robot smoothly executes quick starts, turns, and hard braking within the complex.
