On Feb. 6, during the Lunar New Year festival in Tianjin, a humanoid robot from China’s Unitree Robotics unexpectedly displayed aggressive behavior, raising significant concerns about public safety and the deployment of robots in public spaces. The robot, known as the H1 model, weighs 47 kg and stands 180 cm tall. As spectators extended their hands to greet the robot, it suddenly lunged at a spectator, swinging its arms in a manner described as aggressive and violent, similar to human behavior. Quick intervention by on-site staff prevented any injuries, but the incident has sparked widespread alarm. The manufacturer, Unitree Robotics, attributed the incident to a “program setting or sensor error.” Despite this explanation, the event has heightened ethical and safety concerns regarding the use of robots in public venues. The local community is calling for urgent measures to ensure that robots’ actions align with social norms, emphasizing the need for regulatory and legal frameworks to govern robot-human interactions. The H1 model, priced at 650,000 yuan (approximately 130 million won), is part of a broader trend in robotics aimed at creating machines that can integrate seamlessly into human environments.

Full report : Tianjin Robot Incident Raises Alarm Over Public Safety and Robotics.