Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Self-charging robots pave way for never-ending revolt

Add as a preferred source on Google
Walker S2 - The World's First Humanoid Robot Capable of Autonomous Battery Swapping

If you’ve always been one to scoff at the idea of a robot uprising, then this story out of China might give you pause for thought.

It’s about what is apparently the first-ever humanoid robot that’s able to change its own battery pack. Yes, you read that right — a humanoid robot that’s able to realize when it’s running low on juice, and then go through the process of swapping out its battery for a fully charged one. All by itself … without any human intervention.

The robot, called Walker S2, is built by Shenzhen-based Ubtech, so we know who to blame if those bots do ever take over.

Ubtech released a video (top) showing Walker S2 autonomously swapping out its battery, a process that will enable it to get back to work, whether that involves subjugating humans or hopefully something a little less alarming, like explaining meal times to newly arrived hotel guests.

Walker S2, which has been in development since 2015, is 64 inches tall (162 cm), tips the scales at 94.8 pounds (64 kg), and runs on a 48-volt lithium battery.

Each fully charged battery gives the robot enough power to walk for two hours or stand for four hours. When it puts a flat battery into the charger, it takes about 90 minutes for it to fully charge. 

Currently, Ubtech’s humanoid robot is still in the research and development stage, though it’s also being tested in a range of commercial and industrial settings, as well as in education for teaching about robotics and AI.

The company’s aim is to use its humanoid robot to enhance human capabilities and improve people’s quality of life, particularly in areas like healthcare, education, and service industries, smoothly integrating it into human environments.

The technology powering humanoid robots has been making rapid advancements in the last few years, with major developments in AI helping to make them smarter than ever.

Tech companies in China, the U.S., and beyond are in a race to produce the most sophisticated robots that not only move in a human-like way, but think like a human, too, and clear progress is being made in terms of both physical movement and decision-making abilities.

But a full-on takeover? Well, any chance of that still feels like a ways off. 

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Apple’s M6 chip isn’t even here yet, but you’ll see M7 Macs early in 2027
Apple is reportedly already accelerating its next-generation silicon roadmap, even before the M6 has launched.
Apple MacBook

The M6 chip is still expected to debut later this year, but Apple may already be preparing for what comes next. According to Mark Gurman's latest report for Bloomberg, the company is aiming to introduce its first M7-powered devices as early as the first half of 2027, hinting at a much faster silicon refresh than many expected.

M7 could arrive alongside new Macs and iPads

Read more
The entry-level MacBook Pro could get a design refresh in 2027, and it’s about time
Five years on the same chassis, and now both tiers of the MacBook Pro are getting a new look at once.
MacBook Pro in space grey sitting on a desk.

Apple has a new MacBook Pro lined up for launch early next year, according to Bloomberg. The company will introduce a 14-inch laptop in the first half of 2027. 

The biggest surprise, however, will be a brand-new design language. The outlet describes it as "a revamped entry-level MacBook Pro, code-named K104."

Read more
Study finds humans will talk to AI ghosts of the dead as reincarnations, and it’s pretty grim
The first AI ghost study is in. The results are about as complicated as you'd expect.
VR Headset, Person, Face

A new study from the University of Colorado Boulder confirms something that sounds both impressive and concerning. People find interacting with AI simulations of their dead loved ones deeply meaningful, and most will come away wanting to do it again.

The researchers call it a "generative ghost," which is a clear reference to generative AI, but I’d still prefer to call it unsettling.

Read more