Police are investigating an incident involving a humanoid robot sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in Germany after footage of the assault was livestreamed online. Two 16- and 19-year-old males who were allegedly controlling the four-foot-tall robot could also potentially face sexual harassment charges.
The incident occurred in Cologne, Germany, just before midnight on Saturday evening. According to The Times, the teenage girl, who has not been named, was standing outside a burger restaurant with her friends when she was approached by the humanoid machine. The robot then proceeded to grope the young girl’s rear and made “thrusting motions” towards her.
While this was happening, the 16-year-old owner of the machine livestreamed the assault and posted it on social media.
The robot in question was thought to be a Unitree R1 Air, a four-foot-tall humanoid model which was made in China. Similar robots have surged in popularity in recent years, though they’re mostly used to show off impressive acrobatics or Kung-Fu moves. The robot had also been customised with red and gold coloring similar to that of the Marvel comic book character Iron Man. In addition to that, the machine had been dressed in a vest, tracksuits, a gold chain, and a fake moustache stuck to the face.
Police confiscate the robot
Following the assault, the girl immediately alerted police, and officers soon arrived and found the robot’s owner and his accomplice on a nearby street corner. The robot was also found in the trunk of a nearby Volkswagen.
The teens were apparently using the expensive model, which sells for about €5,000 (roughly $5,600), to create controversial content. The 19-year-old was allegedly the one to film the incident while also providing commentary. Footage of the robot interacting with people in Cologne has since been shared online.
One clip shows the robot, wearing different clothes, being approached by a woman who appears to hug it. It then proceeds to begin thrusting, prompting the woman to jump back and scream. The robot then turns around and walks away
Like many similar models, the robot can be programmed to move in certain ways and can also be controlled directly, though it is unclear whether the teens were in control during the incident. It’s also unclear whether there are any safeguards built into the Unitree R1 Air models to protect against sexual or inappropriate actions.
The robot was subsequently confiscated by police, who also said that they had seized the two young men’s phones as part of an investigation into the incident of suspected sexual harassment. The investigation will reportedly examine how the robot was made to act out the sexual actions.
Published: Oct 13, 2026 09:43 am