Recently, a video of a robotic martial arts performance kicking a young boy at a tourist attraction in Urumqi, Xinjiang, has gone viral online. The footage shows the boy being kicked in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain and unable to get up for a while.
According to the parent who posted the video afterwards, on Children’s Day, June 1st, she took her child to the botanical garden where they encountered the robotic performance. Fortunately, the child was okay, but she was very dissatisfied with the attitude of the responsible person at the attraction.
The parent revealed in response to comments online that after the incident, the responsible person did not come forward immediately, and it was other parents nearby who called to inquire about the well-being of the child.
The parent reminded everyone to be vigilant when taking children out to play, especially in areas with robotic attractions, to ensure that children do not get too close to the robots.
The video exposure has sparked public attention and trended as the top topic on Weibo on June 3rd.
Netizens have expressed their concerns, with comments such as, “The kick was quite strong, at the very least an apology should be made.” “There was no one maintaining order at the scene.” “At least set up a safety line, who knows when this robot might suddenly kick again.” “The child did move forward, but without a safety line, how can it be determined if it’s a suitable position.” “Let the robot learn something positive, instead of always resorting to violence, can’t it perform something else?”
Some have remarked, “The kick was quite forceful, hitting the heart area, it is advisable to get a thorough medical check-up.” “With that kind of impact, there might be a fractured sternum.”
According to a report from mainland China’s “Modern Express”, on Children’s Day, June 1st, a scenic spot in Urumqi, Xinjiang, arranged for a humanoid robot performance to attract tourists, with the robot being controlled by the relevant person at the attraction. However, there were no safety barriers or warning lines set up at the scene. During the robot’s spinning kick performance, a boy was kicked in the abdomen.
On June 3rd, a reporter from Dahe Daily called the botanical garden amusement park regarding the incident, but after explaining the purpose of the call, the call was hung up and subsequent attempts to reach them were unsuccessful.
This robot accident is not an isolated case in China. According to previous reports, on February 3rd, a humanoid robot at a Chengdu mall lost control during a performance, kicking an elderly onlooker to the ground, who was then hospitalized for soft tissue injuries, leading to a temporary halt in related performance activities.
On March 8th, an accident occurred during a performance at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum exhibition “Xuanyong Rebirth”, where a robot fell from a height, resulting in a dramatic crash and causing the audience to gasp in shock.