At a technology exhibition in Moscow, Russia’s first humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence, AIDOL, wobbled onto the stage but lost its balance while attempting to wave, falling face-first to the ground.
This incident occurred on November 11, and the robot was developed by the Russian robotics company Idol, touted as “Russia’s first humanoid robot equipped with artificial intelligence.” Accompanied by the theme song from “Rocky,” two staff members slowly walked the robot onto the stage, preparing to showcase its capabilities to a room full of reporters. However, when it attempted to raise its right hand to wave, it stumbled and ultimately lay flat on the ground, resembling the chaotic aftermath of a bar party.
The organizers attributed the failure to calibration and lighting issues. Video footage shows staff rushing onto the stage to try to help the robot up, even using a screen to shield it from further embarrassment.
“At first, there was a moment of silence, then they started to applaud in support,” Dmitry Filonov, editor-in-chief of Edinorog Media and a reporter covering tech startups, stated in a message on Wednesday.
Vladimir Vitukhin, CEO of AIDOL, stated that the robot integrates movement, object manipulation, and human interaction capabilities through embodied artificial intelligence. The developers claim on the project website (https://aidoltech.ru/) that it can walk, handle objects, and communicate, making it suitable for industries such as automotive, warehousing, healthcare, and entertainment. The robot consists of 77% domestically produced components, with plans to increase this to 93% in the future. It is equipped with a 48-volt battery that can run continuously for up to six hours.
Additionally, it is remarkable that the company is merely a small independent team of 14 people, and they have developed and manufactured this robot over the years using their own funds without external investment.
This event marks Russia’s attempt to join the global humanoid robot race. In 2024, investments in humanoid robot technology are expected to exceed $1.6 billion, not including the billions invested by Elon Musk and Tesla in the Optimus robot. Currently, there are at least dozens of companies worldwide, from unknown startups to tech giants, planning to sell humanoid robots and introduce them into homes and businesses.
Despite the failed debut, developer Filonov pointed out that experiencing failures during growth is quite common for robot startups, citing Boston Dynamics as an example. However, critics on Russian social media and tech forums focused on the robot’s instability and the launch of an unfinished prototype.
The video quickly went viral on social media, including the X platform, sparking widespread discussion and humorous comments, with its awkward fall becoming global headlines. Some reports even jokingly referred to the robot as “Putin’s stand-in,” while many others remarked that Russia was simply “mocking Biden.”
The Russian AIDOL company stated that they are “somewhat confused” by the media’s reaction and will continue to advance the project.
This incident highlights the challenges in humanoid robot development; despite fierce global competition, many prototypes still require refinement.
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