Let’s state this upfront: No, Unitree has not invented a robot that can discern a knife-wielding home-invader from a spouse who lost their keys, shift instantly into Donnie Yen mode, and perform a jaw-annihilating 540 kick.
It has, however, created a robot called the H2-X that can be a plausible actor in a commercial where all that happens—and much more:
It’s notable that Unitree—a brand known for humanoid robots that do choreography and run really, really, fast—is breaking bad a bit in this video. Displays of martial arts prowess are nothing new with robots, and Unitree’s latest Spring Festival Gala included a harmless-looking punching, kicking, and staff-swinging display. But Unitree may well be aware that the American audience craves actual destruction—judging from the rise of robot-on-human bloodsport in the U.S (Which I’m informed was allegedly illegal so don’t try that).
Perhaps that explains why Unitree’s H2-X—which seems to be an unreleased new variant of the mannequin-faced H2 model—gets its hands dirty, on the side of (staged) good and evil. It beats huge dents into a sedan’s fender and hood like a Street Fighter II character; it voids the warranty of a different car by roughly lifting it up by the front bumper; and it fully murders a child mannequin with a leaping push in order to, I suppose, “save” it from a third car going approximately 2 miles-per-hour.
Unitree’s YouTube description for the ad touts eight hours of battery. But it also urges the prospective user to “Please use the robot safely and in a friendly manner.” Clearly Unitree doesn’t actually want its customers trying any of these stunts. The video itself calls these displays “Extreme testing” and demands “No imitation!” The ad also says people and robots should “maintain a safe distance of at least 2-3 meters.” Sorry, homicidal maniacs with knives. I’m gonna need you to stay back for your own safety.
