Russian Humanoid Robot Falls on Its Face in Hyped Debut - The New York Times
In 2024, investments in humanoid technology surpassed $1.6 billion, a sum that did not include a multibillion-dollar infusion from Elon Musk and Tesla, his electric car company, into Optimus, a humanoid they began building in 2021. Mr.
Key takeaways
The most recent developments in humanoid robotics include Russia’s debut of its first AI‑powered humanoid, AIDOL, which dramatically lost balance and fell on stage during a Moscow technology showcase on November 14, 2025, prompting organizers to pull the robot from view and highlighting ongoing challenges in calibration and lighting for new bipedal systems. In contrast, Chinese firm UBTech announced on November 17, 2025 that it has begun mass‑production of its Walker S2 humanoid, a model that can autonomously swap its depleted battery pack for a fresh one, enabling near‑continuous operation without human intervention, and is already secured by a 159‑million‑yuan data‑center contract. Meanwhile, a study published the same day ranked Boston Dynamics’ Atlas as the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, noting its 9 km/h speed, 18 kg payload, and 50 degrees of freedom, while China’s Unitree H2 placed fourth with notable agility and dexterity. These stories illustrate a split in the field: high‑profile setbacks for emerging entrants alongside significant strides in autonomy and performance from established manufacturers.
In 2024, investments in humanoid technology surpassed $1.6 billion, a sum that did not include a multibillion-dollar infusion from Elon Musk and Tesla, his electric car company, into Optimus, a humanoid they began building in 2021.
Mr. Filonov said it was not unusual for robotics start-ups to experience growing pains, pointing to the company Boston Dynamics as another example. A few years ago, it compiled a blooper reel featuring its Atlas robot that drew widespread attention online. But a humanoid robot powered by artificial intelligence, believed to be one of the first in Russia, face-planted during its highly anticipated debut in Moscow on Tuesday after briefly staggering onstage.
Organizers quickly dragged the machine away, raising a black drape to shield it from about 50 journalists who had gathered to watch the demonstration, an inauspicious entry for Russia into the increasingly competitive international space of A.I.-powered robots resembling humans. Skip to contentSkip to site index
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Russian Humanoid Robot Falls on Its Face in Hyped Debut
The robot, known as AIDOL, staggered onstage during a technology showcase in Moscow. Organizers blamed the mishap on calibration and lighting issues.
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By Neil Vigdor
It was an entrance befitting a heavyweight bout, complete with the “Rocky” theme.
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