Humanoid robots are being manufactured at rising rates around the world!
Humans have existed for tens of thousands of years, but recently a new form of technology has emerged. The production of humanoid robots has surged, with a factory in Guangdong, China, able to produce a new unit every 30 minutes. In 2026, over 100 teams signed up to compete in the robot half-marathon, where competitors use autonomous robots to complete the race with either autonomous navigation or remote control navigation (1).
What exactly is a humanoid robot? A humanoid robot is a bipedal robot designed to resemble the human form—that is, it can perform tasks a human can independently. They are equipped with artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, and complex actuators that allow the robot to learn, similarly to a baby, and operate efficiently in the world. There are three main learning techniques: machine learning, imitation learning, and reinforcement learning. Machine learning is where artificial intelligence uses past actions and data from sensors to make real-time decisions. In contrast, imitation learning is where a robot mimics the movements of a human, which can help it learn complex movements that would be difficult through standard programming. Lastly, reinforcement learning is a process in which a mathematical equation rewards correct actions and penalizes incorrect ones (2).
One example of a humanoid robot is Atlas, a humanoid robot created by Boston Dynamics (3). Atlas stands at 6’1″, weighing around 200 pounds, and has a four-hour battery life (3).
Once humanoid robots become available for commercial purchase, it raises a key question: who is responsible for the actions of a robot? This question, seemingly only applicable in sci-fi movies, is becoming a real-world issue that society will increasingly have to address as this new technology continues to develop.
Bibliography
- Mingyang, Tao. 2026. “Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon Approaches; China’s Robotics Sector Grows as New Product Hits 10 M/S Sprint Speed – Global Times.” Globaltimes.cn. 2026. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202604/1358719.shtml.
- Nvidia. 2024. “What Is a Humanoid Robot?” NVIDIA. 2024. https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/glossary/humanoid-robot/.
- “Atlas | Boston Dynamics.” 2026. Boston Dynamics. January 5, 2026. https://bostondynamics.com/products/atlas/.
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