Unitree's stunt-double robodog

Good morning, robotics enthusiasts. Unitree just dropped a viral teaser of its A2 Stellar Explorer, a sleek robot dog that backflips and smashes through windows like it’s auditioning for Mission: Impossible.

The video stirred online buzz and helped send Chinese robotics stocks climbing. But are we watching the future of mobility, or just really expensive parkour?

In today’s robotics rundown:

• Unitree’s ultra-fast stunt robodog

• OpenMind’s ‘Android for robots’

• Japanese hotel run by robots

• Robots rebuild homes after the LA fires

• Quick hits on other robotics news

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

UNITREE

🤖 Unitree’s ultra-fast stunt robodog

The Rundown: China’s Unitree just released a viral video teasing its new mechanical quadruped, the A2 Stellar Explorer — a fast, back-flipping, window-smashing robot dog that sent the robotics company’s stock soaring, Bloomberg reports.

The details:

• In the clip, the A2 is shown smashing through glass, hauling a man on its back, spinning on one leg, and scaling 45-degree inclines.

• The robodog weighs just 37kg (about 81.6 lb.) with batteries, and can support up to a 100 kg (220 lb.) person on its back and carry 25 kg (55 lb.) for hours.

• With 12 DoF and 180 Nm torque, it also reaches speeds up to 5m/s (11.2mph), besting Boston Dynamics’ Spot by 8 miles per hour.

• Under the hood, an 8-core CPU and Intel Core i7 enable high-level autonomy on the robot, with support for over-the-air updates.

Why it matters: Targeted for site inspection, logistics, emergency response, and research, A2’s robust build, network interfaces (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2), and smart OTA updates set a new benchmark for practical, next-gen quadruped robots. While Unitree hasn’t yet revealed the price, it’s estimated at a tidy $10K.

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OPENMIND

🧠 OpenMind’s ‘Android for robots’

The Rundown: Silicon Valley startup OpenMind is crafting OM1, a hardware-agnostic, open-source operating system that aims to bring the power and flexibility of Android to humanoids worldwide.

The details:

• Founded by Stanford professor Jan Liphardt, OpenMind says its OM1 platform supports all types of robots, freeing developers from vendor lock-in.

• It’s engineered to empower robots with context awareness, enabling them to interpret complex environments and adapt quickly to unpredictable situations.

• Backed by $20M in fresh funding, OpenMind just unveiled its FABRIC protocol that lets robots verify each other’s identities and share skills on the fly.

• If one robot learns a new task (like speaking a new language), FABRIC enables that skill to be instantly and securely transmitted to others on the network.

Why it matters: OM1 stands out in the crowded robot OS field by offering a universal, open-source, and hardware-agnostic platform, in contrast to the fragmented, vendor-locked approaches of rivals like Figure AI, Boston Dynamics, and even the modular but research-centric ROS 2. Its unique approach promises quick ecosystem growth.

HOTEL BOTS

🛎️ Japanese hotel run by robots

The Rundown: At Japan’s Henn na Hotel, the first thing you’ll notice is what’s missing: people. Instead, you’re checked in by robots — from humanoids to dinosaur bots — setting the tone for a stay on the bleeding edge of automation, Wired reports.

The details:

• Henn na Hotel is both a functional lodge and a showcase for robotics, serving as a testbed for future service automation.

• The robots communicate in multiple languages, using natural-sounding, synthesized voices and programmed etiquette that includes bows and nods.

• Room keys are dispensed by machines, and many rooms unlock with facial recognition, eliminating the need for cards or mechanical keys.

• A robotic bellhop delivers luggage to guest rooms, while a bedside voice-activated “tulip” robot controls lighting, temperature, and concierge functions.

Why it matters: Guests say the robotic presence at the hotel is both fascinating and eerie. Yet, behind the sci-fi veneer, the charm occasionally slips: robots can stutter over complex queries or react awkwardly to human quirks, prompting some guests to seek out the on-call human staff stationed to intervene if needed.

ROBOTICS FOR GOOD

🏠 Robots rebuild homes after LA fires

The Rundown: After wildfires destroyed nearly 9,700 Southern California homes, ABB Robotics and Cosmic Buildings are using AI-powered robotic microfactories to rapidly rebuild fire-resistant homes on-site.

The details:

• Advanced ABB robot arms, guided by AI and RobotStudio digital twin software, are making structural wall panels, digitally simulating assembly beforehand.

• Each robotic build is digitally tailored to homeowners’ needs, allowing for unique designs without slowing down the construction process.

• Meanwhile, built-in computer vision and AI analytics allow robots to detect flaws or issues in the assembly process.

• The homes are being constructed with non-combustible, fire-resistant materials with designs exceeding California’s wildfire safety standards.

Why it matters: The initiative aims to complete at least 100 new homes by 2027, serving as a scalable blueprint for robot-accelerated disaster recovery in other affected regions. This partnership isn’t just about rebuilding faster — it's pioneering a smarter, greener way for communities worldwide to bounce back from catastrophe.

QUICK HITS

📰 Everything else in robotics today

A robot crab named Wavy Dave helped scientists show that male fiddler crabs adjust their waving displays when they see a rival (even a robotic one).

Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle company, received U.S. regulatory approval to operate its electric robotaxis without steering wheels on public roads.

Kyle Vogt, CEO of The Bot Company, believes home robots have immense potential, but argues chores like laundry and dishwashing aren’t the right place to begin.

Researchers engineered a thin, muscle-inspired robotic actuator that mimics human motion, paving the way for robots capable of delicate surgery.

Coco Robotics is teaming up with Prime Video to turn its LA delivery robots into mobile billboards to promote films.

More than 100 robotic products — nearly double last year’s count — will debut at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing from August 8-12.

A new robot store in Beijing is stocking lifelike Einstein replicas and AI-powered chess partner robots, marking a major push for consumer robots in China, Reuters reports.

University of Florida researchers developed solar-powered robotic rabbits to lure ecosystem-threatening Burmese pythons out of hiding in the Everglades.

An Argentine-American team is livestreaming the first-ever robotic exploration of the Mar del Plata canyon, revealing never-before-seen deep-sea life to viral fans.

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Rowan, Jennifer, and Joey—The Rundown’s editorial team