The humanoid robot Unitree G1 He once again captured the attention of the technology sector after a video was released in which he can be seen playing basketball with a naturalness that until recently seemed exclusive to human athletes. In the images, the android controls the ball, executes fluid movements and shoots baskets with a level of precision that marks a new advance in the integration of human skills within advanced robotic systems.
The performance was possible thanks to the work of specialists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, who used an artificial intelligence system designed to imitate complex human skills. The result shows how robotics is advancing towards models capable of acquiring physical skills that previously depended on people’s own coordination and learning.
To get the robot to execute basketball moves, the team used SkillMimic, a artificial intelligence tool focused on reproducing human actions from videos and motion capture suits. This system analyzes the sequences, refines the movements in virtual simulations and, only when they are stable enough, transfers them to the physical robot.
This process allows the robot to adopt skills with greater precision than that achieved through traditional programming methods, which often require manual instructions and repetitive adjustments. According to the researchers, the transfer of skills from simulated environments to the real world represents a crucial advance for the adaptation of humanoid robots to everyday tasks and dynamic environments.
The demonstration of Unitree G1 stands out especially because it manages to replicate characteristic gestures of professional basketballsuch as ball control, body adjustment before throwing and displacement movements.
The Unitree G1 is one of the most versatile humanoids in its category. It is 1.27 meters tall and weighs 35 kilograms. It is equipped with 43 motors that function as joints, giving it 23 degrees of freedom to move with precision and stability. This architecture allows you to walk, run, spin, get off the ground, and even perform stunts such as somersaults.
Among its most notable components are a 3D LiDAR sensor and a depth camera, tools that allow you to identify your environment, draw safe routes and react to obstacles. It also incorporates LED lights in the head, used for visual communication and feedback.
Their three-fingered hands are designed to manipulate objects with varying levels of delicacy.from basic tools to fragile items. The manufacturer indicates that these capabilities allow you to collaborate in educational and research activities and, in more advanced scenarios, in domestic or care tasks.
The robot can move at a speed of up to 2 meters per second and works with a 9,000 mAh battery that offers approximately two hours of autonomy, depending on the type of activity it performs. In resistance tests, the G1 has been seen to withstand impacts without losing balance, which demonstrates an improved stability system compared to previous models.
Although humanoid robots are mainly used in factories, warehouses and laboratories, their advancement in natural movements and complex abilities indicates a progressive approach to domestic environments. The Unitree G1’s ability to reproduce sports, martial arts or delicate actions is a sign of how this technology seeks to be increasingly functional and adaptable.
Specialists consider that the combination of robust hardware with AI systems based on imitation opens the door to robots capable of learning tasks without the need for detailed programming. This could accelerate its deployment in assistance activities, education and jobs that involve physical precision.
The Unitree G1 basketball demonstration not only shows a visually striking achievement, but also a technical advance that reflects the direction humanoid robotics is taking: more autonomous, more agile systems with progressively human-like behavior.
