China’s Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot Skates, Spins, and Flips in New Demo

Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics is drawing new attention after releasing a new video showing its G1 humanoid robot doing something unusual, even by modern robotics standards.

In the footage, the robot glides across surfaces on roller skates and ice skates, spins on one leg, and performs front flips while maintaining balance. 

The demonstration, released on April 23, highlights how far robot mobility has come in recent years.

The company itself reinforced its broader vision in a post on X, stating: “Humanoid robots are the ideal form of general-purpose robots (perfect for general AI and human-derived data). They can work without wheels — but they can also have wheels if they want. Whatever works.”

What makes the G1 stand out is its hybrid design. Instead of relying only on legs like most humanoid robots, it can switch between walking and rolling depending on the situation. According to Interesting Engineering, the robot combines wheeled and legged movement in real time. This allows it to glide efficiently on smooth surfaces while still handling more complex terrain when needed.

In the demo, that flexibility shows clearly. The robot transitions smoothly between movement styles, performing continuous actions such as 360-degree turns, one-leg spins, and forward flips, all while remaining upright and stable.

Experts say this kind of hybrid locomotion could solve a long-standing challenge in robotics: balancing efficiency with adaptability. Wheels are faster and use less energy, while legs are better suited to uneven terrain. The G1 attempts to merge both advantages into one system.

Skating into more complex territory

The most eye-catching part of the video comes when the robot swaps wheels for skates.

On rollerblades and later ice skates, the G1 continues to move with control. Ice skating, in particular, presents a difficult challenge due to the slippery surface, requiring constant balance adjustments.

The robot’s skating ability reflects advances in simulation-based training and AI-driven motion control. These systems allow robots to practice complex movements digitally before executing them in the real world. Still, as some reports point out, this is a controlled demonstration. It’s unclear how consistently the robot can repeat these movements outside of ideal conditions. While the video focuses on flashy movement, the technology behind it has more practical goals.

Unitree has been developing a broader platform around its G1 series, including the G1-D, a wheeled humanoid designed for data collection, AI training, and real-world tasks. The system integrates hardware and software for building and deploying AI models, with features such as multiple cameras, flexible joints, and various hand attachments.

The idea is to create a general-purpose robot that can operate in human environments, where both precision and mobility matter.

Also read: China’s AGIBOT launched “Deployment Year One” for robots, unveiling five platforms and eight AI models for real-world embodied AI work.