Now he co-ordinates the five-strong team.

"The supply chain and the entire ecosystem for robotics is huge in China, and it's really easy to iterate developments and do R&D [research and development]," he says.Unitree underlines that advantage - its G1 is cheap (for a robot) with an advertised price of $16,000 (£12,500).

Also, Mr Andersson points out, the investment favours Asian nations.that almost 60% of all funding for humanoid robots has been raised in Asia, with the US attracting most of the rest.Chinese companies have the added benefit of support from the national and local government.

For example, in Shanghai there isfor robots, where dozens of humanoid robots are learning to complete tasks.

So how can US and European robot makers compete with that?

Bristol-based Bren Pierce has founded three robotics companies and the latest, Kinisi has just launched the KR1 robot.In a statement to BBC News, the lawyer said that his client and his family are "relieved that it is now clear who the actual writer of the threatening letters is", but added that they "have been traumautized by these events and hope to be reunited soon".

"We also believe that the Department of Homeland Security should issue a public statement acknowledging their error and calling for a stop to any threats against him and his family," the statement said.Mr Oulahan added that Mr Morales-Reyes applied for a U visa - a type of visa given to the victims of crimes who cooperate with law enforcement - this past March. But the backlog on approving U visas is 7-8 years, "thus, we will be exploring other avenues of relief to try to keep him here."

Demetric Deshawn Scott is set to face trial in July over the robbery case involving Mr Morales-Reyes.Mr Scott is charged with multiple felonies, including armed robbery, aggravated battery and use of a dangerous weapon.