{"id":"4dda0ae4-4ffc-447d-9d89-f8f13d75b925","slug":"malfunction-2026-05-05-unitree-robotics","kind":"malfunction","headline":"Unitree H1 humanoid robot malfunctioned at school sports day in Xinjiang, China, throwing kicks at student performers","summary":"A Unitree H1 humanoid robot performing dance moves and martial arts kicks at a school sports day in Xinjiang, China, tripped and became confused by the presence of too many people, then began throwing kung-fu kicks erratically at student performers. The handler ran onto the pitch and lifted the robot to shut it down. 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The H1 achieves a documented maximum running speed of 3.3 m/s (7.4 mph) using proprietary high-torque joints with 360 N-m peak knee torque, and is powered by a quick-swappable 864 Wh lithium-ion battery. The base configuration ships without hands; arms include expandable mounting points for end-effectors. Unitree positions the H1 as a high-performance research platform for universities and enterprise R&D teams, distinct from the smaller and lower-cost G1.","formFactor":"humanoid","maturityStage":"research","lifecycleState":"active","supersededByModelId":null,"specs":{"hands":"none in base config; expandable","height_m":1.8,"dof_total":19,"weight_kg":47,"battery_wh":864,"perception":"3D LiDAR + depth cameras, 360-degree","dof_per_arm":4,"dof_per_leg":5,"max_speed_ms":3.3,"price_usd_approx":90000,"battery_voltage_max":"67.2V","peak_knee_torque_nm":360},"manufacturerSerial":null,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","sources":[{"url":"https://www.unitree.com/h1","label":"Unitree — H1","title":"Unitree — H1","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Unitree Robotics","publishedAt":"2026-01-01"},{"url":"https://www.therobotreport.com/leju-raises-200m-humanoid-production-unitree-unveils-h2-robot/","label":"The Robot Report — Unitree unveils H2","title":"The Robot Report — Unitree unveils H2","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"The Robot Report","publishedAt":"2025-10-25"},{"url":"https://newatlas.com/robotics/unitree-h1-backflip/","label":"Unitree's H1 robot nails a backflip","title":"Unitree's H1 robot nails a backflip","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"New Atlas","publishedAt":"2024-01-18"},{"url":"https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20240314-unitree-h1-world-fastest-humanoid-robot/","title":"Unitree H1 sets fastest-bipedal-humanoid record (3.3 m/s walk)","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"GIGAZINE"},{"url":"https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/unitree-world-record-fastest-humanoid-robot","title":"Unitree H1 sets world record as fastest humanoid at 7.38 mph","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Interesting Engineering"},{"url":"https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1358712.shtml","title":"Unitree H1 hits 10 m/s sprint (company-noted possible measurement error)","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Global Times"},{"url":"https://interestingengineering.com/ai-robotics/china-humanoid-robot-reaches-record-sprint","title":"China's humanoid robot nears Usain Bolt-like speed (~10 m/s sprint, corroboration)","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Interesting Engineering"},{"url":"https://spectrum.ieee.org/unitree-robot-exploit","title":"Unitree robot security disclosure (corroborates H1/G1 specs)","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"IEEE Spectrum"},{"url":"https://www.unitree.com/en/h1","label":"Unitree H1 - Official Product Page","title":"Unitree H1 - Official Product Page","mediaType":"article","sourceName":"Unitree Robotics (official)","publishedAt":"2023-08-15"}],"aliases":["H1","Unitree H1 / H2"],"collisionRisk":"low","reviewNote":null,"manufacturerTermForTeleop":null,"keyFacts":[{"label":"Form factor","value":"humanoid"},{"label":"Drive type","value":"bipedal"},{"label":"Tier","value":"full_size_research"},{"label":"Application","value":"research_industrial"}],"createdAt":"2026-05-25T19:13:27.684Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-04T13:07:16.732Z","unitsInFieldClaimed":null,"unitsInFieldVerified":null,"unitsManufacturedClaimed":null,"unitsManufacturedVerified":null,"unitsAsOf":null,"unitsSource":null,"salesModel":null,"priceUndisclosedSince":null,"autonomyClass":null,"autonomyStatement":null,"autonomyStatementSource":null,"demoForensics":null,"exportControlClass":null,"minCommitment":null,"warrantyTerms":null,"serviceModel":null,"productionRateClaimed":null,"productionRateEvidenced":null,"teleopRatioDisclosed":null,"interventionRateDisclosed":null},"deployment":null,"company":{"id":"e0eddc78-26bb-43ae-bfc5-422a414ebd99","name":"Unitree Robotics","slug":"unitree-robotics","description":"Chinese robotics company (Hangzhou; founded 2016 by Wang Xingxing), among the highest-volume humanoid makers globally. This wave-2 entry ADDS the H-series models to the existing Unitree company record. 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