Robotic chaos: Unitree H1 sparks safety concerns in China
A video has surfaced online from the surveillance of a Chinese company involved in robotics development, showing a robot malfunctioning and attacking during tests. The video displays how the machine aggressively attacks and strikes engineers upon activation.
An unusual incident occurred in China when the Unitree H1, a full-sized universal humanoid robot, attempted to break free from its constraints. The video captures the moment the machine goes into a frenzy, attacking the engineers who were training it. The viral recording likely comes from a Chinese company engaged in robotics research and development.
"Revolt of the Machines"? Robot Attacked Caretakers
At the beginning of the video, you can see the robot suspended on a crane when it suddenly starts to go wild upon activation, flailing its arms. It attacks wildly, appearing as if it's trying to break free from the crane and escape. One of the engineers quickly ducks with an expression of disbelief and terror on his face.
In the footage, the men present—one sitting at a computer screen and the other standing nearby—had to react quickly to avoid danger. The robot moved forward, trying to free itself from the crane, which forced the men to get out of its way. Eventually, one of them pulled the crane from behind to stop the machine from causing further damage. None of them were harmed. However, you can see that the equipment closest to it was devastated.
"This is how it starts"
The video sparked many comments online. One viewer on the X platform wrote, "We are cooked. No wires pulling just pure chaos," while another added, "I've seen this film, it doesn't end well for mankind and, frankly, I don't see Michael Biehn around to save us this time." Another noted, "Can't wait for the robot v. human war."
This isn't the first time humanoid robots have attracted attention. A few weeks earlier, during a half marathon in Beijing, 21 humanoid robots competed with 12,000 runners. Although the fastest robot completed the race in two hours and 40 minutes, humans claimed victory by crossing the finish line in less than half that time.
These events highlight how rapidly robot technology is developing and the challenges it may bring. Although the incident at the factory ended without serious consequences, it serves as a reminder of the potential dangers associated with autonomous machines.
