Unitree-robotics

New research from Stanford University, following MIT's recent SoftMimic project, uses a novel RL framework to teach humanoid robots upper-body compliance, enabling them to safely hug, provide support, and handle fragile objects.

Two new leagues, REK (Robot Embodied Kombat) and UFB (Ultimate Fighting Bots), have announced competing humanoid robot fighting events in the US, partnering with Unitree. The move signals a new commercial push for ''Real Steel''-style, VR-piloted combat, but technical and safety challenges remain.

Speaking at a Shanghai forum, Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing defined the breakthrough for embodied AI as an 80% task success rate in unfamiliar environments. He and other industry leaders also warned that progress is “slower than hoped” and called for urgent data and hardware standardization.

Unitree has unveiled a full-body teleoperation platform for its G1 humanoid. While new videos showcase low-latency robot boxing and soccer, the system''s true purpose may be as a "data acquisition platform" to tackle the industry''s physical AI bottleneck.

Software giant SAP is partnering with a slate of robotics firms, including Humanoid and Neura Robotics, to give robots "business context awareness." New pilots at BITZER and Martur Fompak show robots taking orders directly from SAP''s warehouse management software.