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Pole-Dancing Stripperbot Robot
Ready or not, here come the pole-dancing robots.
At Electric Ladylandhttps://t.co/3waYTJIni4 pic.twitter.com/dJQoQ6NQnT
— Bill Christensen (@Technovelgy) July 12, 2026
Humanoid robotics has officially entered its pole dancing phase.This prototype performs a choreographed full body sequence while gripping a fixed support pole and moving on a rotating platform.
The hip knee and torso coordination is interesting. But the rig also means this is not proof of unsupported balance or autonomous locomotion.
Serious motion control experiment or attention engineering?
In the surprisingly prophetic The Instigators, by Raymond E. Banks, published by Science Fiction Stories in 1956, there is a reference to dancing robots:
A robot dancing uses all the motions that a robot could ever use in a job. A camera-device to make a robot dance and dance again is good enough to make a robot do anything an Instigator can do and lots more.
As far as I know, the first robotic electric dancer was described in The Dancing-Partner, by Jerome K. Jerome, published by The Idler in 1893:
'I go to a ball to dance,' continued the previous speaker, not noticing the interruption. 'All I ask of a partner is that he shall hold me firmly, take me round steadily, and not get tired before I do.''A clockwork figure would be the thing for you,' said the girl who had interrupted.
'Bravo!' cried one of the others, clapping her hands, 'what a capital idea!
'What's a capital idea?' they asked.
'Why, a clockwork dancer, or, better still, one that would go by electricity and never run down...'
Anticipation ran high, and the arrival of the famous mechanist was eagerly awaited...
"Allow me, ladies and gentlemen,' said Herr Geibel, 'to introduce you to my friend, Lieutenant Fritz. Fritz, my dear fellow, bow to the ladies and gentlemen.' "Geibel placed his hand encouragingly on Fritz's shoulder, and the lieutenant bowed low, accompanying the action with a harsh clicking noise in his throat, unpleasantly suggestive of a death rattle. But that was only a detail. ""He walks a little stiffly' (old Geibel took his arm and walked him forward a few steps. He certainly did walk stiffly), 'but then, walking is not his forte. He is essentially a dancing man. I have only been able to teach him the waltz as yet, but at that he is faultless. Come, which of you ladies may I introduce him to as a partner. He keeps perfect time; he never gets tired; he won't kick you or tread on your dress; he will hold you as firmly as you like, and go as quickly or as slowly as you please; he never gets giddy; and he is full of conversation."
(Clockwork Dancer from 'The Dancing-Partner' by Jerome K. Jerome)
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