Humanoid robots perform webster flip at Wang Leehom concert, earn Elon Musk’s attention
Unitree’s G1 humanoid robots drew global attention after performing alongside Wang Leehom at his Chengdu concert, delivering a synchronised dance routine that went viral online. The performance, praised by Elon Musk, highlighted growing interest in China’s rapidly advancing humanoid robotics.
- Six Unitree G1 humanoid robots performed on stage with Wang Leehom in Chengdu on 18 December
- Videos of the synchronised routine went viral and were reshared by Elon Musk on X
- In February, Unitree showcased home-use dance features, prompting mixed reactions online
CHINA: Chinese robotics company Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot drew widespread attention after appearing in a live concert performance with Chinese American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom in Chengdu, where its synchronised dance routine quickly circulated online and attracted commentary from international audiences, including US tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Robots take the stage during “Best Place Tour”
The performance took place on 18 December as part of Wang’s “Best Place Tour” at the Chengdu Dong’an Lake Sports Park Multifunctional Gymnasium in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
The venue has a seating capacity of about 18,000.
During Wang’s performance of his song Open Fire, six humanoid robots dressed in silver sequins appeared on stage and performed alongside the singer.
Viral footage highlights coordinated choreography
Videos circulating online showed the robots executing synchronised movements, including arm waves, leg kicks, turns and jumps, closely aligned with the rhythm of the music.
The routine concluded with all six robots performing a Webster flip simultaneously.
Wang’s official website described the segment as a rare example of robotic dancers being integrated into a live concert performance, combining advanced technology with live music.
Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot
Hangzhou Daily reported that the robots used in the performance were G1 humanoid models developed by Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou-based robotics company.
Multiple clips of the performance, filmed from different angles, went viral, with many viewers commenting on the robots’ agility and human-like movements.
Elon Musk reacts as online discussion grows
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk retweeted a video of the robots on X.
The original post described the robots as “dancing on stage like pros,” to which Musk added the comment “Impressive.”
Online discussions continued to grow following Musk’s post, further amplifying interest in the performance and the technology behind it.
Beyond the concert stage
Beyond live performances, Unitree has been showcasing dance-related features for potential home use.
The company recently released a video demonstrating its G1 robot dancing to music under a feature described as “Keep the Music Going, Keep the Dance Flowing.”
Unitree said the feature had been developed only recently and has not yet been released to customers.
The demonstration video, which showed the robot continuing to dance after being struck by objects, prompted mixed reactions online, with some viewers responding humorously and others expressing unease about the rapid pace of humanoid robotics development.
One user commented, “First we dance,” alongside an image from James Cameron’s Terminator franchise, adding, “Then you die.”
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