China’s Unitree Robotics, a new player in the humanoid robot arena, has made significant strides with its $16,000 G1 model. The company has now revealed a version of the G1 ready for mass production.
Unitree Robotics, best known for its four-legged robotic creations like the Go2 and B2, shifted gears last year to develop bipedal humanoid robots and its progress has been nothing short of impressive.
The initial G1 prototype, priced at $90,000, debuted as a promising yet costly effort. However, Unitree soon followed up with a more affordable and refined version. The G1, now priced at $16,000, features notable design improvements, including a visor-like face and three-digit hands, which replaced the stumps seen in earlier models.
In the few months since its official reveal in May, engineers at Unitree have fine-tuned the G1 to meet the demands of mass production. Enhancements to its appearance and performance have been made, as showcased in a recent video where the G1 demonstrates its agility. The robot is seen leaping, twisting, hopping, and even dancing. It confidently navigates stairs cluttered with debris, adjusts its gait in real-time to handle obstacles of varying heights, and even breaks into a jog. Moreover, the G1 also maintains its balance despite attempts by a developer to knock it over.
Furthermore, the robot’s capabilities have been enhanced through simulated reinforcement learning, resulting in improved performance. The G1 stands 1.32 meters (4.33 feet) tall and can fold down to a compact 690 x 450 x 300 mm (27 x 17.7 x 11.8 in) for easy storage, although its 35 kg (77 lb) weight might require some effort to lift.
The G1’s face features an LED-ringed display equipped with 3D LiDAR and a RealSense depth camera, providing the robot with advanced spatial awareness. Voice commands are received through a noise-canceling microphone array, and a 5-watt stereo speaker handles responses. All cables are internally routed, ensuring a sleek, snag-free design. The robot is powered by a quick-release 9,000-mAh battery, offering around two hours of operation per charge.
Additionally, the G1 boasts 23 degrees of freedom in its joints and can move at speeds up to 2 m/s (4.5 mph).
As Unitree describes this latest version as ready for mass production, it’s clear that the G1 is positioned to be more than just a prototype. While the company hasn’t confirmed that mass production has begun, this update signals a significant move toward making the G1 widely available.
Source: Unitree Robotics
