Russia's AIdol humanoid robot hopes to go toe-to-toe with established competition in the U.S. and China. But after staggering onto the stage at its debut, the robot toppled face-forward toward onlookers as handlers rushed in.

Idol CEO Vladimir Vitukhin attributed the fall to calibration issues, saying that the robot remains in its test phase. "I hope that this mistake will turn into an experience," he said. Despite the setback, Idol's developers insist AIdol represents a significant step toward Russia's self-reliance in robotics. The machine is powered by a 48-volt battery capable of six hours of operation and currently consists of 77% Russian-made components, a number the company plans to raise to 93% in future iterations.

They have "since removed AIdol from public display." 10

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