49 Chinese humanoid robots do acrobatics and martial arts

Unitree’s WeChat account on February 23 posted a video of an impressive martial arts performance by 49 G1 humanoid robots in front of the Palace of Qinian in Tiantan, Beijing. The robot team completes all pre-programmed movements, without the need for manual remote control. The robot is also capable of self-adjusting its posture through an integrated algorithm. For example, if they do not land properly after somersaults, they can balance themselves based on real-time status feedback.

In the 40-second video, the robot performs coordinated martial arts moves including punches, kicks and highly difficult acrobatics. The video stated that this was “real footage, not created by AI”, was shared more than 42,000 times and received more than 50,000 likes in just about 5 hours of posting on the WeChat platform.

Unitree representative said that the performance at Ky Nien Palace uses the same cluster control platform as in the 2026 Lunar New Year Gala program, developed by the company itself. In the program, they performed parkour, boxing and nunchaku dancing, marking a significant improvement compared to the scarf dance at Gala 2025.

Unitree identified, upgraded and validated the cluster control platform as one of the key technical challenges. Coordinating dozens of robots simultaneously requires deep integration between network, operating system, hardware and software engineering. To handle frequent stage layout changes, occlusions between robots, obstructing props, and intense motion, the LiDAR-based positioning algorithm is further optimized to improve accuracy and stability.

Regarding potential applications, Unitree believes that the platform is useful in situations that require multiple robots to coordinate, such as inspection and sorting at warehouses. Flexible control under external forces can help robots assemble accurately and handle heavy loads, while positioning technology helps navigate complex environments.

Last week, Unitree announced plans to ship 20,000 humanoid robots this year, up from 5,500 last year, to promote real-life robot deployment. The company sees this as a big challenge and is integrating AI embodied in advanced brain systems to help robots move in complex environments.