Humanoids
Robots built in our image: who is making them, what they can really do today, what they cost, and when you might meet one in Britain.
Unitree's H2-X 'guardian' robot lifts a car in a viral video. What do we actually know?
A dramatic promo shows Unitree's new humanoid disarming a knife attacker and lifting a car to free a trapped person. There is no price, no release date and no word on whether any of it was autonomous.
Humanoid robots in 2026: what they are, what they can do and what they still can't
The videos are real, but they rarely show an ordinary working day. We separate genuine capability from demo magic, from Digit's warehouse shifts to Optimus's learning problem.
The history of robotics: an interactive timeline from ancient automata to humanoids
From a steam-driven pigeon to robotaxis in London, the machines and ideas that built modern robotics, with the British milestones along the way.
Tesla starts building Optimus robots in Fremont, but Musk says the ramp will take a year
Tesla says the first production-quality Optimus humanoids are rolling off a Fremont line. Musk's own timetable, 20,000 a week and outside customers around the end of 2027, shows how far there is to go.
Sam Altman confirms OpenAI will build a humanoid robot
The brain matters more than the body, Altman says, but expect a demo in 2027 as OpenAI joins a crowded and fast-moving humanoid robotics race.
1X's NEO home robot: what '10,000 orders' really means, and can you get one in the UK?
1X says it booked a full year of production, 10,000 robots, in five days. Those are refundable $200 pre-orders, deliveries haven't been confirmed yet, and UK buyers can't order at all.
How is Britain doing in the humanoid race? A spotlight on UK robotics
From Shadow Robot's hands to Humanoid's new unicorn, the UK is strong on robot dexterity and AI. Building robots in volume, and keeping its best companies British, is another matter.
Humanoid robots in 2026: prices, availability and what they can really do
Tesla Optimus, Figure, Atlas, Unitree and the rest: what each humanoid costs, whether you can buy one in the UK, and how far the reality lags behind the videos.
A robot, a teenager and a legal grey area: what the Cologne case means for the rest of us
German police have seized a humanoid robot after an alleged assault on a 16-year-old girl. The harder question is who the law can actually hold responsible.
Nine minutes to charge, 20 hours a day: the British battery behind the next Digit humanoid
Agility Robotics has picked Cambridge-based Nyobolt to power Digit 5. Battery life is the unglamorous problem that decides whether humanoid robots ever pay their way.