A humanoid robot couldn’t stop feeling the beat at a California hot pot restaurant where it’s employed, leading to a dance frenzy caught on camera that’s gone viral. Unfortunately, the dance moves were too much for close proximity; dishes were broken by the dancing bot, and it took several employees to restrain the robot before it could cause further damage to property or the mood.
The incident took place at Haidilao Hot Pot in Cupertino. It was caused by a robot from the company AGiBot, which makes concierge humanoid robots, including an X2 model that can breakdance.
As shown in several videos posted across social media, laughing workers at the restaurant tried to hold the bot back as it waved its arms in the air like it just didn’t care.
It doesn’t appear that anyone got hurt, and the restaurant chain told NBC News that the robot was doing what it’s programmed to do and “was not malfunctioning or out of control.” The proximity to dishware and other customers appears to have been the issue.
“In this case, the robot was brought closer to a dining table at a guest’s request, which is not its typical operating setting,” a representitive for the restaurant told NBC News in a statement. “The limited space affected its movement during the performance.”
Representatives for Haidilao and for AGiBot did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It’s unclear whether the robot is still employed at the restaurant or has taken its funky moves elsewhere.
