China Unveils Ultra-Realistic Humanoid Robots for Companionship

UBTech Robotics has introduced a new generation of highly realistic humanoid robots designed for companionship, marking what the company calls the next phase of "human-machine symbiosis." The Uworld U1 androids, unveiled at an event in Shenzhen, are covered in "biomimetic skin" that aims to mimic the look and feel of human skin. The company claims these robots can replicate 90% of human movements due to specially designed spinal structures.

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The male and female U1 models stand at approximately 183 centimeters and 169 centimeters tall, respectively, and weigh about half as much as an average human. They are available in a basic torso-only version and two full-body configurations with enhanced features. Pricing for the U1 robots starts at £13,218 (119,880 RMB), with the most advanced models reaching up to £109,205 (990,000 RMB).

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Unlike robots typically built for industrial labor, the U1 series is intended to serve as companions. UBTech founder Zhou Jian articulated the company's vision: "First robots work in factories, then they enter our homes, and finally integrate seamlessly into our lives." To achieve this level of realism, the robots feature 88 servo joints, a dual-pivot biomimetic cervical spine, and thousands of components in the head designed to reproduce human facial expressions.

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Jiao Jichao, vice president of UBTech, highlighted the challenges in developing the robot's facial capabilities, stating, "One of the biggest challenges was making the robot look and behave naturally after fitting complex mechanical systems into a human-sized body, as well as ensuring its facial expressions matched speech and emotion and that it could deliver consistent performance at scale." Each U1 robot is equipped with an AI specifically designed for long-term companionship, capable of recognizing over 20 nuanced emotional states with more than 90% accuracy, according to UBTech.

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At the launch event, representatives stated that the robots can hold conversations, maintain eye contact, and are sold only to adults. UBTech reported that 13,361 individuals have already placed a £330 (3,000 RMB) deposit to join the pre-order waitlist. The company also plans to donate 100 androids by the end of the year to vulnerable groups, including children separated from parents, elderly individuals living alone, and families experiencing hardship.

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Public reaction on social media has been mixed. Some expressed awe at the robots' realism and sci-fi aesthetic, while others criticized their appearance as "creepy" and questioned their functionality. Concerns about the potential societal impact and the uncanny resemblance to humans have also been raised. This development follows a series of public incidents involving humanoid robots in China, including instances of unexpected physical interactions with crowds during demonstrations.