Russia’s flagship humanoid robot stumbles and falls during its live debut

With a slew of humanoid robots being shown off as of late, we can expect a fair share of failures alongside successful reveals (like the Xpeng Iron robot). Speaking of failures, a new video showcases the "embarrassing" fall of Russia’s first AI-powered humanoid - the AIdol - during its debut in Moscow.

Presented by the Moscow-based robotics startup Idol, the humanoid was meant to mark a step forward for Russia’s presence in the AI and automation race. Instead, the showcase turned chaotic after the robot stumbled while attempting to wave at the audience. It then crashed to the ground before its handlers rushed to cover it up. The clip has since circulated widely, and what was supposed to be a national milestone turned into something of an online spectacle. Later, AIdol was brought back on stage (and managed to stay there without faltering).

The AIdol project was intended to demonstrate a machine capable of walking, handling objects, and communicating with people. These are abilities shared by the most advanced humanoids today. But Russia’s robotics industry has faced a lot of barriers since 2022, including sanctions restricting component imports and an ongoing loss of engineering talent.

Developers have since claimed the fall was due to calibration and lighting issues rather than design flaws. Clearly, the AIdol is still in its experimental phase. For now, the team has paused public demonstrations while refining its balance systems, which, honestly, is an ironic (but fitting) metaphor for a robotics sector still trying to find its footing in rapidly developing space.

Watch the full video below: