Humanoid robot demonstrates combat skills

Chinese manufacturer Unitree unveiled the H2-X, a humanoid robot designed for security purposes, capable of performing actions such as damaging cars with kung-fu moves. The robot was showcased in a one-minute YouTube video on October 21, 2026, where it performed knee strikes on vehicles, jumped from a four-meter platform, and intervened in a scenario with a simulated attacker wielding a knife.

Robot protects and lifts vehicles

The video also depicted the robot protecting a woman from a simulated threat and lifting a car to free a person trapped underneath. The H2-X is a security-focused version of the H2, a humanoid robot Unitree introduced a year earlier. The H2 stands 1.80 meters tall, weighs 70 kg, and has 31 degrees of freedom in its joints.

Unitree claims realistic performance

Unitree stated that the footage in the video is not accelerated, though the robot's endurance is approximately eight hours while standing, not during active physical tasks. The company advises users to stay two to three meters away when the robot is in motion. The H2-X's price and release date have not been disclosed, while the basic H2 costs $29,900, with an optional NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor chip for AI capabilities.

Certification and market challenges

TechRadar expressed skepticism about the H2-X obtaining necessary certifications for public sale, though it suggested possible industrial or military applications. Unitree has not confirmed such uses. The video was released as Unitree faces a stock market decline, with its shares losing more than half their value since a peak on August 19.

Stock market and future outlook

Unitree's stock has since rebounded to nearly 390 times the company's annual profits, about ten times the average of its sector. Reuters reported that Beijing may be slowing other robot manufacturers' plans to enter the stock market. Unitree's first quarterly results, due on October 29, may offer more clarity on the company's future.