A customer pushes a humanoid robot inside a Russian electronics store, and the machine immediately makes a move that looks remarkably like a kick. CCTV from Volga Store in Saratov shows the customer shoving the humanoid robot known as Syoma. After the contact, the robot steps forward and swings one leg toward the man before store staff grab it and hold it down until the machine is powered off. The funny part is that the robot probably was not actually trying to fight anyone. Humanoid robots use fast balance corrections to keep themselves upright after being pushed or knocked off position. A recovery movement can easily look like a deliberate kick, especially when the machine continues making awkward movements afterward.
Volga Store posted the footage and joked that Syoma needed an emotional reboot. No serious injuries were reported.
The video it looks like a scene from a robot comedy. But the footage also shows a real issue with modern humanoid robots. When their recovery movements do not stop as expected, humans may still need to physically intervene.
So, is this the future of technology or the future of needing a bigger emergency button?
Here’s the robot rebellion:
