The Agibot G2 is the first humanoid robot to get a job alongside humans on a high-speed electronics production line, Agibot says.

The race was sponsored by a department of the Beijing municipal government. While both humans and androids took part, the only humanoid robots allowed to run were bipeds. But various control methods were allowed, from totally autonomous androids to remote-controlled devices.

The dream of deploying humanoid robots in every home has created a new type of job. The only requirements are a head strap, a smartphone and a list of chores.

Humanoid robots have crossed a line that once belonged firmly to science fiction. In crowded convention halls and viral clips, machines that walk, smile and even misbehave like people are startling onlookers who are not sure whether to be impressed or unnerved. The latest lifelike androids move almost like humans, and when they glitch, the […]

While the malfunction elicited guffaws online, techsperts warn that these cybernetic pratfalls could signal something more alarming as bots become increasingly embedded in everyday life, as these consumer-grade machines can come apart when the rubber hits the road.

Experts generally agree that before humanoid robots can be widely deployed, they must first attend “vocational schools” to develop a functioning “brain”. Engineers describe humanoid robots as having three layers: a “brain” for perception and decision-making; a “cerebellum” for motion coordination; and a “body” equipped with motors and sensors.