Video: Humanoid robot kicks teleoperator's groin in demo-gone-wrong

During a public demonstration of Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot, a teleoperator wearing a motion capture suit attempted a martial arts-style kick that inadvertently struck himself. Because the robot mirrors the operator’s movements exactly and both faced the same direction, the robot lifted its leg in sync, causing the operator’s own foot to hit his groin. The operator collapsed in pain while the robot mimicked his posture, creating a viral moment that highlighted the risks of human-robot interaction when movements are mirrored without spatial adjustment. Unitree recently introduced the G1-D, a wheeled humanoid robot designed for data collection, AI training, and practical tasks in industrial and service environments. The G1 robot itself has been showcased performing advanced martial arts maneuvers, including kicks, spins, and flips, demonstrating impressive agility and balance. However, some viewers have questioned the practical applications of these demonstrations, as Unitree markets the G1 primarily as a research and education platform rather than a consumer home assistant. Pr