Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics has announced plans to livestream what it calls the world’s first humanoid robot boxing match, featuring a pair of its G1 robots, according to reports."Let’s step into a new era of Sci-Fi, join the fun together! Unitree will be livestreaming robot combat in about a month, stay tuned!" the company wrote on X on April 10.
The company’s promotional video, titled "Unitree Iron Fist King: Awakening!", opens with a G1 robot sparring against a human. Although slower and less agile, the robot recovers quickly after being knocked down. The video later shows two robots facing off, previewing the upcoming match. Some sequences feature stylized martial arts-like movements.
Further details about the fight remain scarce, including the exact date and which robot models will participate. However, reports suggest the G1 is the most likely contender, though the taller H1 model could also appear, according to tech site Interesting Engineering.
The Unitree G1 stands 1.32 meters tall, weighs 35 kilograms, and features advanced computing power and smooth motion control. Considered the company’s flagship humanoid robot, the G1 was designed to operate in environments challenging for humans, offering enhanced flexibility and agility in a compact form, according to Unitree. The H1, by contrast, is larger at 1.8 meters tall and 47 kilograms in weight.
The announcement follows a series of viral videos showcasing the company’s recent breakthroughs.
On March 21, Unitree released a 54-second video showing the G1 performing a kip-up, springing from its back to its feet, becoming the first humanoid robot to achieve the move.
Earlier that month, the G1 gained attention for becoming the first humanoid to complete a side flip, a feat considered more challenging than the backflip previously demonstrated by the H1.
The H1 had earlier made national headlines after performing a traditional folk dance during China’s Lunar New Year Gala, the country’s most-watched television program, broadcast by state-run CCTV, South China Morning Post reported.
