A humanoid robot named Syoma unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks on a customer at an electronics store in Saratov, Russia, after being shoved in the chest. CCTV footage shows the customer approaching the robot and pushing it, prompting the bot to square up, refuse a handshake, and launch into a martial-arts-style attack lasting about two minutes.
Chaotic Scene at Electronics Store
The robot threw several haymakers and two or three savage-looking kicks, at one point stamping on a table and stumbling to the ground. Two staff members grabbed Syoma and restrained it, preventing serious injury to the customer, staff, or the robot itself. The incident occurred on Monday, August 31, and the footage was posted by the store the following day.
Company Response and Uncertainty
The store stated: “The store’s robot consultant, Syoma, suddenly went out of control appeared to attack a customer. Thankfully, everyone is OK! Syoma is now undergoing an ‘emotional reboot’, while the customer escaped with little more than a fright.” The robot’s manufacturer, model, and control system have not been publicly identified, leaving unclear whether Syoma was responding to the shove, trying to regain balance, following a programmed sequence, or being remotely controlled. Some online have speculated the video may be staged, citing the delayed and theatrical reactions of those involved.
Context of Recent Robotics Developments
The incident comes weeks after reports that developers had manufactured a freakish four-legged robot capable of wielding a chainsaw. Dubbed ThreeHalves and developed by tech-firm Satyress, the robot stands over six feet tall and is so potentially dangerous that its creators have published a guide on how to destroy it if it goes on the rampage.
