The commercial Unitree H1 humanoid robot, which weighs 104 pounds and has 365 pound-feet of torque per joint, has demonstrated dangerous potential when software glitches occur. A jaw-dropping video showing the Unitree H1 humanoid robot flailing violently during a test has captured the internet’s attention and sparked a new wave of concern about the safety of advanced robotics. The incident has raised questions about the risks associated with advanced robotics, especially as these technologies move from research labs to commercial use.
The viral clip, widely shared across the internet, shows the full-sized humanoid robot named DeREX suspended from a crane inside a factory in China. Surrounded by two handlers, the robot suddenly starts thrashing its limbs without warning. The force is so intense that it knocks over nearby equipment and nearly causes the crane to collapse. As chaos unfolds, one stunned observer shouts, ‘Oh my god, what the (expletive) was that?’ Another technician replies, ‘What the (expletive) did you guys run?’ The dramatic exchange, captured on video, has only deepened speculation.
Cix Liv, the robot handler who shared the footage on X, offered a possible explanation, stating, ‘The technical reason is we ran a full-body policy while the feet weren’t touching the ground. Don’t do that.’ In other words, the robot was executing full-body movements without contact with the floor, triggering a dangerous cascade of erratic behavior. Experts warn that these movements, though technically correct from the robot’s perspective, can seem violent or unpredictable to nearby humans. This incident adds to a series of similar malfunctions reported with Unitree robots, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced safety protocols and testing.
Previously, a similar event occurred in May, when another H1 model violently malfunctioned during a test. The robot began flailing in midair, scattering lab equipment and sending engineers scrambling. Earlier this year, a separate Unitree humanoid startled crowds at a festival in China when it suddenly lurched toward a safety barrier. Although security acted fast, the robot’s aggressive motion left many in the crowd visibly shaken.
The Unitree H1 is commercially available, standing nearly 6 feet tall and weighing 104 pounds. Each joint delivers a whopping 365 pound-feet of torque, which is enough to cause serious harm if anything goes wrong. Even small glitches in balance or software can appear threatening due to the robot’s human-like size and shape. As advanced machines move from research labs to commercial use, the risks become more real. Whether it’s robot security, AI-powered assistants or automated delivery bots, safety testing will need to scale rapidly to keep up. These incidents demonstrate that powerful hardware combined with flawed software can have dangerous consequences. The rogue robot video was real, unfiltered and unsettling. It’s a reminder that while robots are becoming more capable, they’re still not perfect and are sometimes unpredictable. As AI and robotics evolve, the line between useful and dangerous is becoming increasingly blurred. Regulation, transparency and safety testing can’t be afterthoughts.