# 238. Humanoid Robots Can Now Punch... What's Next?

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2025-12-30
- Length: 19m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-12-30-238-humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next-CPFVCnb_

## Summary

The hosts discuss Unitree Robotics' new H2 humanoid robot, which demonstrates aggressive boxing and sparring capabilities, marking a shift from previous walking and parkour demos. They trace the evolution of humanoid robotics from Da Vinci’s mechanical knight to modern open-source platforms like Unitree’s H1 and H2, which have enabled rapid innovation by researchers and companies like Rec Robotics. The conversation highlights the technical complexity of balance control and force absorption, while also raising significant safety and ethical concerns about powerful, autonomous robots interacting with humans.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-12-30-238-humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next#t=1) Introduction: Mouser and BattleBots
- [3:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-12-30-238-humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next#t=204) Unitree’s Boxing Robots and the H2 Demo
- [5:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-12-30-238-humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next#t=325) The Evolution of Humanoid Robotics
- [11:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-12-30-238-humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next#t=694) Technical Implications and Safety Concerns
- [14:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-12-30-238-humanoid-robots-can-now-punch-whats-next#t=883) The Future of Robot Sports and Entertainment

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Unitree (company)
- H2 (product)
- H1 (product)
- G1 (product)
- Boston Dynamics (company)
- Atlas (product)
- Honda Asimo (product)
- Rec Robotics (company)
- Mouser (company)
- BattleBots (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From the barn to the bar: AI powered robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-04-19-from-the-barn-to-the-bar-ai-powered-robots) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The State of Humanoids: Where is the market headed?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-08-08-the-state-of-humanoids-where-is-the-market-headed) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [ICRA Recap; OSRF on ROS 1 Sunset](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-05-23-icra-recap-osrf-on-ros-1-sunset) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Persona AI developing industrial humanoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-05-30-persona-ai-developing-industrial-humanoid) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Marc Raibert on the future of robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-07-25-marc-raibert-on-the-future-of-robotics) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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