Noetix Robotics humanoid and bionic robots take the stage at Spring Festival Gala | Unity Ventures Portfolio
The Spring Festival Gala Stage's "New Calling Card for Humanoid Robots"
On New Year's Eve 1996, in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala sketch Robot Fun, Cai Ming played a "humanoid robot" that still existed only in people's imaginations.
Thirty years later, in the 2026 Spring Festival Gala sketch Grandma's Favorite, Cai Ming shared the stage with actual robots. Performing seamlessly alongside her were four humanoid robots developed by Noetix Robotics, a Unity Ventures portfolio company, plus one bionic robot nearly identical to her in appearance and expression. Noetix Robotics served as both the "Humanoid Robot Partner" and the "Exclusive Bionic Humanoid Robot Partner" for this year's Gala.
This marked the first time humanoid robots appeared in a language performance at the Spring Festival Gala. Unlike traditional acts, this national stage demanded far higher standards for natural human-robot interaction, precise motion control, and real-time algorithmic responsiveness.
To accommodate the complex on-site production requirements, Noetix Robotics completed rapid technical iteration across its full product matrix in just over a month. The bionic robot on stage demonstrated near-human facial expressions and fluid, natural movements — showcasing a new leap forward for domestic humanoid robot technology.
From Technical Validation to Stage Trial: Multiple Products Including "Little Bumi" and "Little Rascal N2" Take the Gala Stage
On the Gala stage, two "Little Rascal N2" units performed consecutive cartwheels and aerial flips, landing steadily. Meanwhile, unlike stiff, immediate arm-swinging at the start, "Little Bumi" only raised its arms naturally after reaching a certain speed, displaying a highly human-like, fluid running posture.
The Spring Festival Gala marked "Little Bumi's" debut. To achieve more natural human-like qualities on stage, Noetix Robotics iterated repeatedly on its motion control algorithms.
Executing the human-like motion of "raising arms after starting to run" requires formidable algorithmic capability. The team also rigorously designed both structure and algorithms for a light, agile foot feel, ensuring foot motor torque stayed below 10 Nm and ground contact force remained under 100 N. The result: Little Bumi's gait became light and spirited, with an even stronger childlike quality.
From Fantasy to Reality: Cracking Bionic Robot Technical Challenges in Two Months
From the moment the bionic humanoid robot's Gala appearance was confirmed, Noetix Robotics completed the full cycle from ground-up independent R&D to three iterations in just two months, overcoming numerous technical hurdles.
The core technical breakthroughs centered on the underlying architecture of the bionic human face: not only enhancing the natural stretch and durability of the bionic face by adding polymer materials to platinum silicone, but also fitting 32 motors for driving facial movements into the extremely compact space inside the bionic head through highly compact drive design.
Noetix Robotics also independently built a multimodal coordinated expression model covering lip shapes, expressions, eye movements, neck posture, and gestures. For instance, the robot's body exhibits breathing-like rise and fall, while its neck and arms coordinate with facial expressions during conversation.
Despite the high technical difficulty, Noetix Robotics views bionic robots not as "laboratory products." In 2025, it already deployed its bionic face products in commercial scenarios including guided tours. The company has now become one capable of mass-producing bionic humanoid robots in the industry.
From Gala Stage to Millions of Homes: Pushing 10,000-Yuan-Class Home Robots Toward Households
Participating in the sketch scenario represents, after accumulating mass production capabilities and scenario experience, a breakthrough attempt by Noetix Robotics to further push domestic humanoid robots into homes and unlock demand growth through consumer-grade products — as well as a bold imagination of the ultimate form of future "harmonious human-robot coexistence."
As the industry's first company to launch a consumer-grade robot, Noetix Robotics has already taken the first step toward large-scale robot popularization.
Beyond making good products, building channels to reach millions of households matters too. Facing consumer end-users, Noetix Robotics has proactively begun laying out sales systems across regions and industries, constructing direct sales channels while also expanding offline distribution.
Currently holding over 30 patents, Noetix Robotics has built a full-stack self-developed core technology system. It has taken a solid first step on the path toward comprehensive popularization of humanoid robots.
Today, humanoid robots have stepped onto the Spring Festival Gala stage; tomorrow, we look forward to them entering millions of homes.
Patience, Persistence, and Risk-Taking | Unity Ventures Annual Special
Xi Jinping Inspects Sci-Tech Innovation Work in Beijing
