Humanoid robot malfunctions at Beijing conference, convulses on ground

A humanoid robot unexpectedly collapsed and began convulsing at the 2026 World Robot Conference underway in Beijing, prompting an emergency response from the event's technical staff.

The incident occurred when the robot suddenly lost control, with its limbs moving erratically as it lay on the ground. The malfunction appeared to stem from a technical failure in the robot's control systems, causing its movements to become uncontrollable.

Several technicians quickly rushed to the scene to address the problem. Despite their immediate intervention, the team initially struggled to regain control of the malfunctioning machine, spending several minutes attempting to stabilize it and restore normal operation.

The incident highlighted the challenges that persist in humanoid robotics, particularly regarding fail-safes and emergency protocols when systems malfunction unexpectedly during public demonstrations. No details were immediately available regarding the cause of the technical failure or any damage sustained by the robot.