Can a humanoid robot kick its maker hard enough to knock him to the ground, or was this pure editing trick? Engineers at EngineAI are again showcasing the capabilities of their new generation of the T800 bipedal robot, whose martial arts abilities are so perfect that many believe the video was computer-generated. The company silenced the skeptics with a bluff: it posted a video with behind-the-scenes footage shot in a drab studio, with the robot doing high-speed kicks against the background typical for a plain studio, not the dramatic lighting and editing used in the original video.
The most publicized feature of the T800 was when the CEO, Zhao Tongyang, from the tech firm EngineAI, entered the ring wearing protective gear. Zhao was caught unprepared when the robot bent beneath his defense and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him to the ground. Onlookers from the tech firm could not help but be amazed and entertain the idea of their CEO going down in battle against a robot, a robot his firm had promoted. This was more than a marketing campaign. It was a way for the robot’s authenticity, particularly with regard to its CGI, to be put to the test.
Engine AI’s decision to give the robot the same name as the iconic ‘Terminator’ series, specifically the ‘T800,’ is also intentional. With a height of 1.73 meters, the robot’s body is designed with light materials such as the magnesium aluminum alloy, which is primarily used in the aerospace industry. However, with its 29 degrees of freedom, including seven for each of its hands, the robot is capable of greater movements that are also human-like. A joint with high torque, measuring up to 450 Nm, drives its acrobatic movements. Additionally, its active cooling system is in the legs to allow the robot to run for up to four hours on its solid-state battery.
Perception and navigation are addressed by a 360° LiDAR ring accompanied by stereo cameras, providing input for an Intel N97 CPU and an NVIDIA AGX Orin processor with access to an astonishing 275 TOPS of AI compute capabilities. This allows the T800 to evade objects while moving at a pace of up to three meters a second. It should also be mentioned that the robot’s dexterity allows it to handle a maximum load of five kilograms. This can certainly accommodate logistics, inspection, or service purposes but truth to tell, EngineAI is currently pitching it more as a ‘combat-ready’ robot.
That picture also has its definite attraction and warning signs. Indeed, humanoid robots have, for so many years, been promoted for their facility to function in a human-structured environment, but their actual application has remained relatively low. As pointed out in one of the scientific studies about applications of humanoid robots, this technology is still in its infancy, and actual application tends to be below what has been generally advertised, such as in amusement and shows, such as EngineAI’s boxing display.
Another important aspect that has also been overshadowed by the safety risks of the system. Recently, there has been a study by King’s College London and Carnegie Mellon University, where robots using large language models have not passed the safety tests, in some cases approving commands that can lead to major injuries. “Every model failed our tests,” said Andrew Hundt, the co-author of the study, further adding, “Refusing or redirecting harmful commands is essential, but that’s not something these robots can reliably do right now.”
Alternatively, public perception presents a further level of complexity. Research from the University of Essex has shown that more complex or more autonomously-designed robots tend to be held more accountable for causing damage to human life than non-complex robots when exposed to the same situation. “These findings show that how robots’ autonomy is perceived—and in turn, how blameworthy robots are—is influenced, in a very subtle way, by how they are described,” said Dr. Rael Dawtry.
The Terminator brand of the T800 robot may make it more so to an extent. The start-up receiving this level of investment, EngineAI, appears to have faith in the future success of the T800, with mass production scheduled to take place by the middle of the year in 2026. As to whether this robot is going to be as effective as its kung fu stunts, only time will tell, although at the moment, this robot has done something that very few others have: gain internet stardom and have its CEO take one for the team.