Hiring a humanoid robot for film, TV and photo shoots

On a film, TV or photo set, a humanoid robot behaves more like a specialist camera rig than an event attraction: it has to hit the same mark on cue, take after take, on a surface and in weather it can handle, with clearance for how the footage will be used. This guide covers what to ask about repeatability, battery, locations, sound and finish, and the rights questions that catch productions out.

What is the robot doing in the shot?

humanoid4rent's film and photo page separates two needs, and they lead to different suppliers:

A performance on cue. Most shoots want a robot that looks right and repeats a specific action, pre-programmed or teleoperated. Autonomy is usually unhelpful here, because the director wants the same movement again.
Genuine behaviour. Documentaries and tech features may want real autonomous behaviour captured as it happens. That needs a technically capable supplier and more time.

There are quieter roles too: a static prop, set dressing, or a co-star holding a product. If the robot must hold something, check the payload – Unitree lists about 2 kg maximum arm load for the G1 and about 3 kg for the G1 EDU.

Advertising features in rental order books. A Shanghai rental firm told Sixth Tone in March 2025 that brand advertising shoots were its next-largest type of order after exhibition guides and event planning.

Repeatability, cue and reset

Ask three questions for every action on the shot list:

How repeatable is it? Same path, same timing, same end position?
How is it triggered? Who presses the button, and can they take cues from the first AD?
How long is the reset? The film page's example – an action lasting three seconds that needs ninety seconds to reset – shows how resets reshape a shooting day.

Be clear about what is operated. Unitree's Go2 page notes that, given current technology and computing power, some functions have to be realised by human operation or secondary development. That is fine on set, but it makes the operator part of the performance: they need a sightline and a place to stand out of shot. The teleoperation guide explains the modes.

Battery and the shot list

Plan coverage around batteries, not the other way round. Manufacturer figures:

Unitree G1 humanoid: about 2 hours, with a quick-release battery.
Unitree Go2 robot dog: about 1–2 hours with the standard battery, 2–4 hours for the EDU version with a long-endurance battery.
Boston Dynamics Spot: about 90 minutes average runtime and 60 minutes to recharge, with runtime depending on payload and environment.

Ask how many batteries the supplier brings, how long a swap takes and where charging happens. Treat manufacturer figures as best case for a day of rehearsals and repeated takes; see battery life at events.

Locations, floors and weather

Floors are the problem that keeps coming up. A legged robot behaves differently on a studio floor, in a location interior, and on sand, grass, cobbles or wet ground, so send the supplier photos of the actual location rather than a description.

Weather needs a written answer. Boston Dynamics publishes an IP54 rating and an operating range of –20 °C to 55 °C for Spot. Unitree's G1 and Go2 product pages, as read on 12 October 2026, state no ingress-protection rating, so treat rain, puddles and spray as a no unless the supplier confirms otherwise in writing. Plan a weather day and ask what it costs if it is called. The outdoor events guide has more.

Agree an exclusion zone with the first AD that still holds when the camera, dolly or crane moves.

Sound, light and finish

Sound. Robots are often noisy – fans, actuators, footfalls. If dialogue or clean ambience matters, plan to record sound separately or replace it in post.
Finish. Check whether the shell flares under your lights, whether status LEDs can be switched off or masked, and whether logos can be covered.
Costumes and props. Ask what can be attached. Some finishes cannot be taped, and Unitree asks users not to make dangerous modifications to its robots, so anything rigged to the robot must be agreed with the supplier first. Branding a robot covers wraps and costumes.

Rights, clearances and the script

The robot is a recognisable branded product protected by trademarks, and its owner is often not its manufacturer. Find out early whether the owner's consent is enough or the manufacturer must approve too, and agree usage in writing: a single social post, a nationwide campaign and use worldwide in perpetuity are very different requests.

The script matters too. Boston Dynamics' current Spot terms of sale list deliberately using the robot to harm or intimidate a person or animal, or as a weapon, among the prohibited uses that void the warranty. In February 2021, when the art and marketing collective MSCHF mounted a paintball gun on a Spot, Boston Dynamics said publicly that the project misrepresented the robot, and Vice reported the company saying that anyone violating its terms would void the warranty. Whether a staged scene falls under such terms is a question for the owner, the manufacturer and your lawyer – ask before the shoot, not after.

Settle, too, whether the supplier can put the footage in its portfolio and receive a credit.

Scheduling and cost

Ask for the overtime rate, the latest wrap time and the weather-day terms. Expect to pay for prep days, tech recces and rehearsal days, and a fair comparison includes transport in both directions and the technician who is with the robot all day. The quote comparison guide shows how to line quotes up, and the pricing guide lists the cost lines.

Shoot brief checklist

Type of production, and where and for how long the footage will be used
Shoot and prep dates, plus any weather day
Location, floor surface and photos
Interior or exterior, expected temperature and weather
Each action required and the expected number of takes
Trigger method and who cues the operator
Battery plan: number of batteries, swap time, charging location
Whether clean audio is needed
Unbranded, wrapped or costumed robot
Clearances: owner, manufacturer, script content
Production contact and the insurance the production carries

Send the brief through one request to get itemised quotes for the same shoot days.

FAQ

Can a humanoid robot repeat the same movement for every take?

A pre-programmed action can be highly repeatable, but ask the supplier how consistent the path and end position are, and how long each reset takes.

Can we film a robot outdoors in the rain?

Only if the supplier confirms it in writing for that model. Spot has a published IP54 rating; Unitree's G1 and Go2 pages state no ingress-protection rating.

Do we need the manufacturer's permission to show a robot in an advert?

Sometimes. Ask the owner whether the manufacturer's terms apply to your use and depiction, and get any clearance in writing before the shoot.

Can the robot appear unbranded or in costume?

Often, within limits. Ask what can be covered or attached, because some finishes cannot be taped and modifications need the supplier's approval.

Sources

How this guide was made: prepared with AI assistance; every factual statement was checked against the sources listed above on 12 October 2026. Spotted an error? Write to info@humanoid4rent.com.