Russia’s new AI robot collapses on launch

Seconds after appearing on stage, accompanied by music from the film Rocky, the robot lost its balance and fell into the arms of two staff members.

The filmed scene was shared on social networks, sparking a wave of reactions. The humanoid even left several parts behind on stage after the incident.

Developed by the Russian robotics company Idol, the robot was heralded as a breakthrough in anthropomorphic robotics, made up of 77% Russian parts.

The robot’s development was designed to mimic movement, object manipulation and human interaction using artificial intelligence.

Idol CEO Vladimir Vitukhin said the robot could not only display more than a dozen emotions, but also hundreds of micro-expressions thanks to its silicone skin.

The robot’s fall was apparently attributed to a calibration problem: engineers therefore analyzed its balance systems and control software following the incident.

However, there have been some strong reactions on social networks. Many critics questioned the decision to unveil a prototype deemed unfinished, and wondered about the Russian humanoid’s ability to compete on the international market.

In the face of these forwards, Vitukhin declared:

“This is real-time learning, when a good mistake turns into knowledge, and a bad mistake turns into experience.”