Remarkable robot images provide a vision of the future - New Scientist
These photographs of humanoid robots by Henrik Spohler are part of his project Tomorrow Is the Question By Carissa Wong 12 November 2025 We have long been fascinated with our own image.
Key takeaways
The most recent headlines on humanoid robots focus on two high‑profile demonstrations. On Nov. 14, 2025, Russia’s first AI‑driven humanoid, AIDOL, stumbled and fell onstage during a Moscow technology forum while the “Rocky” theme played, prompting widespread media coverage of the mishap and highlighting the prototype’s 77 % Russian‑made components and expressive silicon skin. In parallel, Chinese electric‑vehicle maker Xpeng Motors unveiled its IRON humanoid at its AI Day in Guangzhou, showcasing a robot with 82 degrees of freedom—including 22 in each hand—and fluid, human‑like movement; the company plans to begin limited deployments by 2026 and has already released a feminine edition that emphasizes a natural gait on a balance beam. Both events underscore the rapid progress and remaining technical challenges in bringing commercially viable, lifelike humanoid robots to market.
These photographs of humanoid robots by Henrik Spohler are part of his project Tomorrow Is the Question
By Carissa Wong
12 November 2025 We have long been fascinated with our own image. In the 1920s play Rossum’s Universal Robots, Czech writer Karel Čapek coined the term robot to describe human-looking creatures forced to work in factories. Since then, we have built many humanoid robots that can move and interact with the world in anthropomorphic ways. Award-winning photographer Henrik Spohler at photo agency laif explores such endeavours in his project Tomorrow Is the Question. The main image, above, shows a metallic creation by the German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics in Oberpfaffenhofen. The 200-kilogram robot, called Rollin’ Justin, can travel long distances on wheels. Using cameras to take in its surroundings, it can avoid obstacles and carry out tasks such as serving drinks. It could potentially be developed
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