I encountered many unusual robots at CES — these are the ones that stood out the most

Highlights from CES: The Most Noteworthy Robots on Display

CES is renowned for showcasing cutting-edge robotics, and this year was no exception. The event featured several significant advancements, including the unveiling of the production-ready Atlas humanoid robot from Boston Dynamics. While the robots on the exhibition floor may not always reflect the current state of commercial deployment, they offer a fascinating glimpse into the future of robotics—and are undeniably entertaining to watch. I spent considerable time exploring the various robots on display. Here are a few that stood out the most.

Ping Pong Prodigy

With the recent release of the film Marty Supreme, it seemed fitting that a ping pong-playing robot made an appearance at this year’s show. The Chinese robotics company Sharpa demonstrated a full-sized robot competing in table tennis against a human staff member. When I visited their booth, the robot was trailing 5-9 and the match wasn’t exactly high-speed, but watching a robot play ping pong was captivating in itself. I’ve known people whose skills were on par with—or even below—the robot’s abilities. According to a Sharpa representative, the company’s primary innovation is its robotic hand, and the full-body robot was created to highlight the hand’s impressive dexterity.

The Boxing Bots

One of the most popular attractions featured humanoid robots from the Chinese firm EngineAI. Their T800 robots, inspired by the Terminator series, were placed in a mock boxing ring. Despite their intimidating appearance, the robots didn’t actually land punches; instead, they performed a sort of shadowboxing routine, never making real contact. Their unpredictable movements added to the spectacle—one robot wandered out of the ring and into the crowd, while another stumbled and fell, remaining on the floor before eventually getting up. Although not exactly a heavyweight bout, the display offered an uncanny glimpse of human-like behavior, prompting one spectator to remark, “That’s too much like Robocop.”

Robotic Dancers

Robots showing off their dance moves have become a CES tradition, and this year, Unitree—a leading Chinese robotics manufacturer—took center stage. Despite recent scrutiny over potential military connections, Unitree continues to impress with its product lineup, including a humanoid robot reportedly capable of running at speeds up to 11 mph. At their booth, however, the focus was on robots grooving to the music, providing a lively and entertaining performance for attendees.

Automated Store Assistant

At the Galbot booth, visitors experienced a glimpse of the future of retail. The Chinese company, specializing in multi-modal large language models and general-purpose robotics, recreated a convenience store environment. Their robot, integrated with a menu application, allowed guests to select items, which the robot would then retrieve. After I chose Sour Patch Kids, the robot promptly fetched the box for me. According to Galbot, their robots are already being used in real-world scenarios, such as assisting in Chinese pharmacies.

Robotic Housekeeper

Developing a robot capable of folding laundry has long been a benchmark for robotics engineers. At Dyna Robotics’ booth, I watched as a pair of robotic arms efficiently folded clothing and stacked it neatly. Dyna, known for its advanced manipulation models, has already partnered with hotels, gyms, and factories to deploy its technology.

One notable client is Monster Laundry in Sacramento, California, which became the first laundry center in North America to implement Dyna’s robotic folding system late last year.

Dyna Robotics has also attracted significant investment, closing a $120 million Series A funding round in September with backing from Nvidia’s NVentures, Amazon, LG, Salesforce, and Samsung.

The Robotic Butler

LG introduced its latest home assistant robot, CLOid, at CES. While the robot’s design was charming, its speed left something to be desired. For a detailed account of my experience with CLOid, you can read my full review here.

Looking Ahead

This year’s CES offered a fascinating look at the evolving world of robotics, from playful performers to practical assistants. As these technologies continue to advance, it’s clear that robots are poised to play an increasingly prominent role in our daily lives.