Unitree’s humanoid machine shows impressive moves and kicks, catching up with Boston Dynamics’ steely acrobats.

Unitree, Chinese robotics company, recently released a video of its child-sized machine punching the air and delivering a smooth roundhouse kick. The G1 humanoid robot is showing off some impressive martial arts moves, proving that even robots can learn a thing or two about Kung Fu.

This demo highlights just how far humanoid robotics have come – especially in the consumer market – and how rapidly Chinese robot developers are catching up with American counterparts. Just like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, Unitree's G1 is already available for purchase, with prices starting at $16,000, according to the company's website.

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Equipped with 23 to 43 joint motors, depending on the configuration, the G1 can walk, hop, and, as we now see, practice martial arts.

In an earlier video, the robot was seen dancing while an engineer playfully tried to knock it over with a padded broomstick.

Another clip from last month showcased the G1 running down a street and handling rocky, uneven terrain with ease.

Needless to mention that G1 can be your cook in the kitchen or a repairman in a car workshop.

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Beyond humanoid bots, Unitree has also developed quadrupedal robots, including the B2 and the Go2. The latter is available for under $2,000—a steal compared to Boston Dynamics’ Spot Mini, which costs up to $75,000.

It’s clear that for now G1 is incapable of competing with a human martial artist in a real fight or an authentic chef at a culinary contest. But with artificial intelligence ever evolving and adapting to our needs, this is not a too-distant reality.

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