Training humanoid robots has advanced rapidly over the past few years, and expectations for what these machines can do continue to rise. With improved mobility, better balance, and increasingly refined artificial intelligence, modern humanoid robots are now capable of performing complex tasks that once seemed far out of reach.
One of the more common ways companies teach these robots new skills is through teleoperation. In this setup, a human operator controls the robot’s movements in real time using motion capture suits, sensors, or handheld controllers. The robot mirrors those actions precisely, allowing engineers to collect valuable data for imitation learning and reinforcement learning systems.
A well known example of this approach is the G1 humanoid robot from Unitree Robotics. The company explains on its official site that teleoperation plays a key role in helping the robot learn human-like motion before transitioning to more autonomous behavior.
While effective, this training method is not without its risks, as one recent viral clip has shown.
The video, which has been circulating widely on social media, appears to capture a live training session involving Unitree’s G1. In the footage, a teleoperator performs a series of martial arts style movements in a confined space while the humanoid robot closely mirrors every action.
At first, everything looks controlled and smooth. The robot matches the kicks and stances with impressive accuracy, demonstrating how far real time motion replication has come. The situation takes an unfortunate turn when the operator pivots and throws a powerful kick without enough distance from the robot.
Because the robot is copying the motion instantly, it delivers the same kick at the same height and angle, striking the operator in a very sensitive area. The impact sends the man to the floor in obvious pain, while the robot also collapses as part of the mirrored movement. If machines could express discomfort, the robot may have shared the moment.
The clip was shared on X by a robotics focused account and quickly drew reactions from viewers who found the incident both painful to watch and darkly humorous. It also served as a reminder that working alongside humanoid robots requires careful planning, especially when high energy movements are involved.
Teleoperation remains an important step in teaching robots how humans move, react, and balance. The data collected during these sessions feeds directly into machine learning models, helping robots perform tasks more smoothly and safely when operating on their own. However, as this incident highlights, spatial awareness and safety precautions are essential during live training.
Unitree officially introduced the G1 humanoid robot in 2024 and began selling the model in early 2025. According to reporting, the robot is priced at around $13,000 and is aimed primarily at research labs, universities, and businesses exploring humanoid robotics and AI development.
As humanoid machines continue to evolve and move closer to real world deployment, moments like this underline the importance of safe training environments. One misjudged movement can quickly turn a cutting edge demo into a painful lesson for the human involved.
