EP.64 WORLD'S FIRST HUMANOID ROBOT KICKBOXING TOURNAMENT
A wheeled biped from China got an arm, the biggest update so far on Optimus from Tesla & much more...
Kickboxing tournament for robots in China! 🥊
Unitree Robotics has taken humanoid robot performance to a new level by hosting what may be the world’s first humanoid robot fighting competition. Held in Hangzhou, China, the event featured teleoperated Unitree G1 robots squaring off in a kickboxing-style tournament, complete with a human referee and cheering spectators.
Developed by the Chinese robotics firm based in Hangzhou, the Unitree G1 stands 1.32 meters tall and weighs 35 kilograms. It is powered by a motion-capture training system that enables complex striking combinations — straight punches, hooks, and even front kicks — performed with surprising agility and fluidity. During matches, the robots demonstrated rapid reflexes and the ability to recover from falls and impacts, critical traits in a dynamic combat scenario.
Controlled through a mix of motion sensors, direct motion capture, and voice commands, the G1 continues to expand its capabilities across different athletic events. Just weeks earlier, it participated in a humanoid half-marathon in Beijing.
While the Unitree fight night was primarily a demonstration, it marked another step toward more responsive and physically capable humanoids, positioning Unitree at the forefront of robotics innovation with real-world applications in agility, mobility, and balance under stress.
Switchgear production made easy with robots! 🎛️
ABB Smart Power has launched a next-generation assembly line for its industrial switchgear with the help of JOT Automation and ABB Robotics. Designed for high flexibility and long-term reliability, the new automated line supports the production of eight different switchgear models without retooling.
The project, located at ABB’s Vaasa facility in Finland, involved the delivery of 19 custom robotic cells, with 16 already operational and the final three nearing completion. The line incorporates 20 ABB industrial robots, including IRB 1200s for scanning and assembly, an IRB 1600 and IRB 2600 for material handling, and a compact IRB 910SC SCARA robot. These robots are controlled through adaptable software that allows for rapid reprogramming to accommodate product variations.
The modular system was delivered in two stages—one for larger frame sizes, which went live in early 2024, and another for smaller frames expected to launch by the end of the year. Built for a 25-year operational life, the line highlights ABB’s focus on durable, future-proof automation in electronics manufacturing.
🦾 Feature sponsorship with ABB Robotics
LimX Dynamics biped got an arm 🤳🏼
LimX Dynamics has expanded the capabilities of its bipedal TRON1 robot with a new optional robotic arm, enhancing its functionality for mobile manipulation and research in humanoid AI.
Unveiled at ICRA 2025 in Atlanta, TRON1 features a two-legged design reminiscent of the Star Wars AT-ST walker and is aimed at academic and research institutions exploring embodied intelligence. With the new arm module, researchers can explore whole-body control, manipulation planning, and mobile task execution in a compact, versatile package.
The modular robot platform supports NVIDIA NX for advanced computing, and can be fitted with lidar, depth cameras, and voice interaction modules, making it well-suited for projects in 3D mapping, navigation, and human-robot interaction. Recognized with a 2025 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award, TRON1 is positioned as an accessible, ready-to-deploy solution for cutting-edge robotics research.
Meme of the week 🤖
Tesla’s Optimus biggest demo so far! 😮💨
Tesla has unveiled its most advanced demonstration yet of the Optimus humanoid robot. Shared via the official Optimus account on X, the video shows the robot performing a range of household and light industrial tasks — from throwing out the trash and sweeping floors to stirring food and lifting automotive parts.
What sets this showcase apart is that all actions were controlled by a single neural network. Optimus learned these tasks by watching first-person human video demonstrations, eliminating the need for complex teleoperation or task-specific programming. Tesla says this method allows for rapid skill acquisition and more scalable training.
Tesla VP Milan Kovac explained that the team recently achieved a major breakthrough: teaching Optimus directly from human video footage. The robot is now capable of learning through imitation and can be directed using natural language. Next, Tesla aims to expand Optimus' training data to include third-person internet videos and improve performance through real and simulated reinforcement learning.
Elon Musk has frequently stated that Optimus may become Tesla’s most valuable product. With this new demo, the company continues to push the boundaries of general-purpose robotics and AI.
Humanoids learning locomotion, and manipulation ✊🏼
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have introduced FALCON, a new dual-agent reinforcement learning framework designed to tackle the complex challenge of humanoid loco-manipulation, the ability for humanoid robots to walk and interact physically with objects using force.
While previous methods have largely focused on light tasks or non-humanoid platforms, FALCON is engineered for robust, real-world tasks involving physical interaction. It splits the robot’s control into two specialized agents: one manages stable lower-body locomotion under disturbances, while the other handles upper-body end-effector positioning with adaptive force compensation.
Both agents are trained jointly in simulation using a curriculum that gradually increases force challenges—up to 100N—while respecting torque safety limits. The result is significantly improved performance: twice the accuracy in joint tracking, faster training convergence, and reliable walking during manipulation tasks.
What sets FALCON apart is its generalization. The same policy can be deployed across different humanoid robots without tuning for each one, making it versatile and scalable.
