A remote-controlled “clown” humanoid robot appeared to kick a young boy in the stomach during a packed Children’s Day show at Urumqi Botanical Garden in China, prompting a police complaint
A jaw-dropping clip has reignited fears about humanoid robots after a remote-controlled “clown” bot appeared to kick a young boy in the stomach during a Children’s Day show at a packed botanical garden. The disturbing incident unfolded on Monday (June 1) at Urumqi Botanical Garden in China.
A remote-controlled Unitree G1 humanoid robot dressed as a clown kicked the child during a Children’s Day performance due to a lack of safety barriers. The boy sustained no serious injuries, but the incident prompted a police complaint and intensified calls for stricter safety regulations for public robotics displays.
Footage appears to show the Unitree G1 humanoid robot carrying out martial arts-style moves in front of children and their parents.
Wearing a bright blue clown wig, the droid jabs at the air before launching into a dramatic 360-degree spin. Then comes the moment that set keyboards on fire.
As the 70-pound machine completes the turn, it suddenly shoots out a leg and seems to land a roundhouse kick straight into a young boy’s stomach, the New York Post reported. The child doubles over in pain, clutching his abdomen, before collapsing to the ground.
Onlookers can be seen watching in disbelief, as per the New York Post. After the kick, the robot stumbles backwards, briefly steadies itself, and then carries on with its routine as if nothing has happened.
Exactly what triggered the kick remains unclear, with some online viewers suggesting it was a miscalculation during the demonstration, according to the New York Post. The Unitree G1 is a compact, mass-produced bipedal humanoid robot made by Chinese firm Unitree Robotics.
First unveiled in 2024, it has drawn attention in the tech world because it is marketed as a comparatively affordable research-and-development platform, rather than a multi-million-pound corporate prototype. In terms of size, the G1 stands around 1.27 to 1.32 metres tall (roughly 4ft 3in) and weighs about 35kg (around 77lb) including its battery.
It is also designed to fold down into a smaller footprint for transport and storage, making it easier to ship or fit into a car boot than many other humanoid robots. Unitree says it can walk, run and negotiate obstacles at speeds of up to about two metres per second.
A major selling point is its mobility. Depending on the version, the G1 has been described as offering between 23 and 43 “degrees of freedom”; essentially the number of independently moving joints, combined with high-torque motors. In promotional demonstrations, the robot is shown carrying out complex movements such as fast kicks, deep backbends, flips and the ability to get back up if knocked over.
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