ROBOTS THAT WERE ACTUALLY MODELS
david
Yesterday, we dedicated a post to
the World Robot Conference (WRC) in Beijing, China, showcasing some of the robot prototypes that the industry is working on, particularly those that, in the not-so-distant future, could make you break a sweat in the privacy of your home.
But as we’ve said more than once, not everything that glitters is gold. Now, a video has surfaced showing that some of the robots at the event were actually models in disguise. Were all the robots models? No. But the ones with the most realistic movements? Almost certainly.
This isn’t to say that the organizers were trying to deceive people. It’s possible that the attendees could tell which were robots and which were models, but for those watching the videos online, or seeing certain clips, it would have been much harder to distinguish..
A few years ago, you might have believed that Guinness had created a tram shaped like their beer can. Today, with AI and advances in CGI, no one should be too sure of anything.
THE KUNGFU BOT FROM UNITREE ROBOTICS COULD REPLACE YOUR BOUNCERUnitree Robotics is a Chinese company specializing in advanced robotics. Founded in 2016 by Xingxing Wang and based in Hangzhou, the company gained fame for its robotic dogs, known for their agility, stability, and affordability compared to competitors like Boston Dynamics.
Although these robots are often marketed as tools to assist humanity in research, industry, and consumer applications, the truth is that they could also be deployed in warfare. Best not to dwell on that too much—like drones, they are a total game-changer.
For now, let’s focus on Unitree Robotics' latest masterpiece: the Kungfu BOT, a bipedal version of their robotic dogs with a humanoid appearance and the ability to perform an impressive 720-degree spinning kick. Imagine facing one of these if you step out of line at a bar!
# Watch videos
The slow-motion shot of the day.
ABU DHABI POLICE ARE ALREADY LIVING IN 2050Abu Dhabi Police just unveiled their latest patrol vehicle at Gitex Global 2024, and it looks like something straight out of the future: the Magnum MK1, an autonomous, armored, drone-equipped 4x4.
This cutting-edge vehicle is primarily electric but also has hybrid petrol support. It can reach speeds up to 150 km/h, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds, and is bulletproof against ammunition up to 7.62 mm. It carries three officers and securely transports one detainee in a specially designed internal cell.
Among its most advanced features are integrated systems for audio, video, and vital-sign monitoring, autonomous off-road navigation, radio and cellular communication capabilities, surveillance drones, infrared cameras providing 360-degree vision, specialized lighting, advanced geolocation, anti-jamming protection, and even an internal workstation with a panoramic screen to manage operations directly from the vehicle.
This futuristic patrol car will be fully manufactured in Abu Dhabi and is expected to hit the roads officially by 2028—a real leap into the future for Emirati law enforcement.
# Watch Video
Slow-motion of the day.