HANGZHOU - In a stunning display at a recent show in Hangzhou, eastern China's leading technology hub, dozens of humanoid robots twisted and turned in perfect synchronization, their joints creaking to the beat of upbeat music as the robots wowed the audience and drew cheers.
The show reflects a growing trend, with more and more businesses and individuals hiring humanoid robots for performances, exhibitions and live broadcasts to attract public attention.
The robots shot to fame earlier this year when a fleet of them from Unitree, a Chinese robotics startup, wowed audiences with synchronized dancing in colorful jackets at the Spring Festival Gala, becoming one of the most-watched broadcasts in China.
The huge public attention and robot fever that followed the show made the robots a hot commodity in the rental market."Orders for Unitree's G1 humanoid robot rentals have skyrocketed since early February, with bookings already full by the end of March," said Gao Lai, who has been in the robot rental business for more than a decade.