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Boy Struck by Dancing Humanoid in China Video Prompts Safety Questions

The viral clip has renewed questions about safeguards for humanoid robots in crowded public spaces.

Overview

  • A humanoid performing a dance in China’s Shaanxi province struck a young boy in the face during a spin on Saturday, and handlers pulled it back as it kept moving.
  • Reporters identified the machine as Unitree’s G1, a roughly 77‑pound, 4.3‑foot robot with 23 joint movements, 3D LiDAR and a depth camera, priced around $13,500 to $16,000.
  • The demonstration took place inside a roped‑off ring, yet the routine brought the robot within arm’s length of spectators, including children.
  • The footage spread widely online, with viewers calling the act dangerous and raising questions about the need for clearer emergency stops and staff protocols at public demos.
  • Outlets linked the clip to other March mishaps, including a Haidilao restaurant show where staff restrained a dancing robot after it broke dishes and a Macau street promo where police escorted a Unitree model that startled a 70‑year‑old woman.