China makes history by creating world's first 24/7 worker
UBTech, one of China's leading humanoid robotics companies, has unveiled a world-first innovation with its Walker S2 – a tall, human-like robot that has just demonstrated the ability to swap its own battery in under three minutes.
The robot stands at 162cm tall and weighs 43 kilograms – making it roughly the size of a small adult.
Local Chinese media revealed that not only can it change its own battery but it is also capable of detecting how much power it has left and then deciding whether it's best to swap out its batteries based on the priorities of its tasks.
In promotional footage posted online, the Walker S2 can be seen walking itself to a battery station, reaching behind its body and removing its previous battery, before installing a fresh one.
The clip, which has amassed close to 100,000 views, left people divided.
'I can see my job flashing before my eyes,' wrote one viewer.
'We are so done,' wrote another.
'Scary. You never know when a robot might take your position and make you unemployed,' wrote a third.
The white and black robot has a featureless, dark face panel and walks upright like a human – resembling something out of a sci-fi horror movie.
However creepy, the display marks a massive milestone for the tech world and is the first step towards machines that could work around the clock without human intervention.
The robot is designed to be deployed in settings like factories or as a human-like machine to greet customers in public venues.
For now, the Walker S2 remains a showcase of what's possible. But in a future of offices, warehouses and factories filled with machines that never call in sick and don't have to be paid – it's not hard to imagine where they could take us.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
Tesla awards chief executive Elon Musk $44 billion worth of shares
The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has become even richer after Tesla awarded him $US29 billion ($44 billion) worth of shares in the company. It comes just six months after a judge struck down an even larger pay package worth $US56 billion ($86 billion) after a lawsuit brought by a Tesla stockholder. Mr Musk, who is the chief executive of the electric vehicle maker, will be awarded 96 million shares in Tesla, but analysts believe it signals the tech billionaire will remain with the company until 2030. Tesla said in a regulatory filing on Monday that Mr Musk must first pay Tesla $US23.34 ($36.06) per share of restricted stock that vests. That cost is equal to the exercise price per share of the 2018 pay package that was awarded to the company's chief executive. In a letter to shareholders, Tesla's board said that Mr Musk hasn't received "meaningful compensation" for eight years. The board argued that Mr Musk deserved the compensation because he has delivered "transformative and unprecedented growth" that has "translated into immense value generated for Tesla and all our shareholders." Tesla shares have plunged 25 per cent this year, largely due to blowback over the billionaire's affiliation with President Donald Trump. Tesla also faces intensifying competition from both the big Detroit automakers and from Chinese EV companies. In its most recent quarter, Tesla reported that quarterly profits plunged from $US1.39 billion ($2.15 billion) to $US409 million ($632 million). Revenue also fell and the company fell short of even the lowered expectations on Wall Street. Under pressure from shareholders last month, Tesla scheduled an annual shareholders meeting for November to comply with Texas state law. A group of more than 20 Tesla shareholders, which have watched Tesla shares plummet, said in a letter to the company that it needed to at least provide public notice of the annual meeting. Investors have grown increasingly worried about the trajectory of the company after Mr Musk had spent so much time in Washington this year. He became one of the most prominent officials in the Trump administration in its bid to slash the size of the US government. In December, Delaware Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick reaffirmed her earlier ruling that Tesla must revoke Mr Musk's multi-billion-dollar pay package. She found that Mr Musk engineered the landmark pay package in sham negotiations with directors who were not independent. At the time, Judge McCormick also rejected an equally unprecedented and massive fee request by plaintiff attorneys, who argued that they were entitled to legal fees in the form of Tesla stock valued at more than $US5 billion ($7.7 billion). The judge said the attorneys were entitled to a fee award of $345 million. The rulings came in a lawsuit filed by a Tesla stockholder who challenged Musk's 2018 compensation package. Mr Musk has been one of the richest people in the world for several years. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said he felt Mr Musk's stock award would alleviate some Tesla shareholder concerns. "We believe this grant will now keep Musk as CEO of Tesla at least until 2030 and removes an overhang on the stock," Mr Ives wrote in a client note. "Musk remains Tesla's big asset and this comp issue has been a constant concern of shareholders once the Delaware soap opera began." AP
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
WYX spots gallium at Ida Holmes Junction
Special Report: High-grade gallium has been discovered at Western Yilgarn's Ida Holmes Junction project during maiden helicopter-borne rock chip reconnaissance, strengthening the company's position in the critical minerals sector. Western Yilgarn's helicopter-borne rock chip reconnaissance program discovers gallium mineralisation The mineralisation system remains open in all directions, indicating potential for extensions Further exploration is being planned including soil and rock chip sampling Newly identified zones of gallium have been delineated within exploration licences E36/1020 and E36/1080, situated 21km apart, with the system remaining open in all directions, indicating strong potential for extensions. The rock chip sampling program uncovered grades up to 195.5g/t and 262.79g/t gallium trioxide, with planning underway for follow-up exploration to extend and delineate the newly identified zones along strike. Gallium, which is used in semiconductors, LEDs and solar tech, is witnessing a surge in global demand due to its role as a key technology metal in global supply chains. Like many critical minerals, China dominates global gallium production, creating a concentration of supply that can be vulnerable to geopolitical shifts and export restrictions. In June 2023, China imposed export restrictions on gallium and germanium, citing national security concerns as a response to Western restrictions on semiconductor tech exports, triggering supply shocks and price volatility. Compelling opportunity for further discoveries Western Yilgarn (ASX:WYX) non-exec director Pedro Kastellorizos said the company was very pleased with the results from the initial reconnaissance program. 'These early-stage findings highlight the project's significant mineral potential, particularly given the minimal historical exploration conducted across the area,' he said. 'While gallium is the primary exploration focus at Ida Holmes Junction, Western Yilgarn also holds a gallium focused exploration licence over the New Norcia bauxite-gallium project in the highly prospective Darling Range just north of Perth. 'With ongoing exploration and a favourable geological setting, the potential for further discoveries of gallium and other critical minerals at Ida Holmes Junction remains compelling.' What's next? Based on Western Yilgarn's initial exploration, the total strike extent of the mineralised system remains undefined. Planning is underway for follow-up exploration to extend and delineate the newly identified mineralised zones along strike. Ida Holmes Junction is situated in the Yilgarn Craton of WA, ~50km southwest of Gold Fields' Agnew gold mine. The project is centred at the intersection of two geological structures – the Holmes Dyke and the Mt Ida fault. This article was developed in collaboration with Western Yilgarn, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
The Australian
a day ago
- The Australian
EVs embrace wireless charging
Aussies could be soon charging their cars as easily and effortlessly as they charge their mobile phone, courtesy of game-changing new technology. Aussies could be soon charging their cars as easily and effortlessly as they charge their mobile phone, courtesy of game-changing new technology. A decade since Tesla debuted it's autonomous 'snake' charging technology, that never went into production, Chinese carmaker Li Auto has launched its own version of self-chargeding to the acclaim of many car lovers and tech enthusiasts on social media. The video of the family SUV charging itself via a robotic arm on a charging station stunned viewers and offered a glimpse of what motorists can expect in the very near future. MORE: Chinese brand moves into Holden's home — JeebsTX 🇰🇸 (@JeebsTX) August 1, 2025 Like something out of Terminator 2 or Blade Runner, the robotic arm reaches for the charging cable and using a laser scanning system inserts the charging cable into the car's electric charging outlet. It then unlocks and releases the cable when the charging is finished and is able to do so for all cars in the several bays of the charging station. However it appears the future might be even brighter than this. Self proclaimed 'optimistic futurist; CEO Elon Musk has indicated his EV darling Tesla will go even further, very soon. Musk has indicated induction charging – which like wireless charging for mobile phones is the process of transferring electrical energy between two objects using electromagnetic induction – could be available as soon as next year. Tesla's Cybercab service has been launched to much fanfare in Austin Texas and San Francisco. And if Musk is right, induction charging would allow the cars to be even more autonomous. It might not be that long before the cars don't need any human intervention at all. The other possibility is that Tesla's Optimus robot could perform the tasks around charging EVs and even maintenance that humans currently do. MORE: New ute to spark price war Musk said on a recent earnings call for the car maker that he believes Tesla will be making 100,000 units of Optimus in five years time and predicts it will be the most sought-after product in the history of human kind. Musk has also indicated his Cybertaxis will use the wireless charging system and has rolled out a proof of concept as to how it will work, with the car moving over the top of the charge as it parks for charging to occur. It would appear to follow suit that inductive charging in EVs would take a substantially longer time than traditional charging via cables but Musk said that won't be the case. 'There is no meaningful efficiency difference between inductive and conductive charging if the system is designed right,' Musk wrote on X. There are also indications that the Cybertruck might be able to use induction charging when it is widely available and the applicable systems updates are made. Volvo is another leading carmaker moving down the road to induction charging. The Swedish car giant has begun real-world testing of the charging in partnership of Momentum Dynamics with its XC40 Recharge, reaching speeds of up to 40kW. Which would mean it could conceivable charge from 20 to 80 per cent in less than an hour. James MacSmith has worked as a journalist for over 20 years across general news, sport, lifestyle and real estate. Motoring New research has revealed the startling truth just how much your car is costing you at the petrol pump, despite countless claims otherwise. Motoring A popular Chinese hybrid SUV has landed in Australia, promising to reset expectations in the family car market although the driving experience can be inconsistent.
