You can call it propaganda if you want to (it probably is), but Unitree’s G1 robots have just put on a very impressive display of synchronised martial arts. The feat took place at the CMG Spring Festival Gala, a televised event celebrating the Chinese New Year. Several of Unitree’s robots took to the stage, assisted by high production values, human opponents, and some very creative programming.
It’s no secret that the Unitree G1 has been practising for this event, but it’s still a remarkable display of confidence from the Chinese robotics company. If even one of its robots collapsed or malfunctioned on stage — as has happened lately, though not to Unitree — it would have thrown the whole showcase into disarray.
GG, G1
Unitree released a video showing some of the behind-the-scenes practise the company undertook for its very public showcase. The G1 robot shows a serious amount of agility throughout, but it’s probably the programmers (and the choreographed humans) who are the real stars of the presentation. Keeping cool when various mechanical men are flipping and jumping around can be hard to do.
Some of the choreography calls to mind Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master films — indeed, the robots perform some of the Chinese actor’s Drunken Fist moves perfectly. A little more stiffly, sure, but the G1 humanoid robot lacks human tendons and muscle structure.
Acrobatics displays, nunchucks, and quarterstaffs (known as a chang gun in that country) amp up the complication level for the robots and their handlers. Traditional battle and festival dress was also applied to the ‘bots, further increasing the possibility that something could go wrong.
Which, obviously, is the point. Unitree may have robotics expertise, but they’re at least equally impressive on the marketing front. Of course, it helps to have a capable product doing much of the work for you.
