Chinese robot dancers prepare for America’s Got Talent final

Chinese street dancer Wu Yufei and his team of humanoid robots are preparing for the final of the popular US television show America’s Got Talent.

Wu, a 27-year-old dancer from Sichuan, has spent much of his career performing alone. He now performs alongside robots made by Chinese robotics company Unitree.

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The group has reached the final after impressing judges and viewers with synchronised dance routines, acrobatic moves and kung fu-inspired performances.

Wu said dancing with the robots gives him a “very magical feeling” and that, after months of training, they no longer feel like cold machines to him.

Training the robots to dance is not simple. Engineers first capture human movements, run them through computer simulations and then transfer the movements to the robots.

Some dance moves are easier for the robots than others. They can perform spinning and power moves well, but movements that require flexibility are more difficult.

Unlike human dancers, the robots cannot easily improvise or adjust their movements if the music changes suddenly. Their routines are mostly programmed in advance.

Wu said one of the robots’ biggest advantages is how quickly they can learn. Once one robot learns a routine, the same knowledge can be transferred to the others.

The robot group first attracted wide attention after performing at China’s Spring Festival Gala. Their appearance on America’s Got Talent has now brought the technology to a much wider international audience.

The group will perform in the America’s Got Talent Season 21 final on Tuesday, where it will compete for the show’s top prize.