A Robot Strolls Through the City

Written by: Sitara Nair

Recently, people in Detroit and Austin, Texas got a surprise: a humanoid robot, a machine built to look and move like a person, walked among them on the sidewalk.

In Detroit, a robot named Zion walked down 7 Mile Road, greeting people with handshakes, waving, and even pausing to make kids smile. Zion was developed by Art Cartwright, the founder of Interactive Combat League, and it was part of an event called RoboWar, a competition featuring friendly robot battles. 

Out in Austin, another humanoid robot unofficially named “Jake the Rizzbot” drew crowds with its cowboy hat, silver chain, Nike sneakers, and use of Gen Z slang like “That’s a clean fit!” Although remotely controlled, Jake walked around at places such as The Domain and downtown, talking to many crowds and going viral on TikTok and other social media platforms.  

A humanoid robot is a robot that resembles and mimics human form and movement. It usually has two arms, two legs, and a face (or at least a head!). Some can walk, talk, and even make facial expressions. Scientists create them so they can work in places built for humans, like hospitals, stores, or even outer space. These robots are not just Hollywood props; they are built with advanced technology. They use deep reinforcement learning to learn how to walk, balance, and interact. Their fluid, humanlike movements and gestures often surprise spectators. 

Why it matters?

This provides a glimpse into how robots could become part of everyday life. The approach encourages children to get excited about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). The whole point of Cartwright’s robot was to get people excited about technology and show off its true capabilities. It also prompts important questions: Could robots assist people in the future? Or could they cause issues if they malfunction? 

Even tech leaders, like OpenAI’s Sam Altman, say we need to get ready for robots in everyday places like streets and stores . And China is sending humanoid "robot cops" out into cities like Shenzhen and Chengdu on patrols.

Robots Around the World 

These walking robots aren’t just in the U.S. In China, humanoid robots are already being tested as traffic cops. In Japan, there are robots that greet guests at hotels. And NASA is working on sending robots to space to help astronauts explore places like the Moon and Mars!

Fun facts:

• Zion walked by itself on two legs and was built to spark community imagination, not fear 

• Jake weighs about 77 lbs, stands nearly 4 ft tall, and costs around $16,000 

• Mobility: They are often designed with bipedal locomotion (enabling them to walk on two legs like humans)

• Sensors and AI: These robots are equipped with sensors, cameras, and advanced AI and machine learning technologies to perceive their environment and interact with humans.