Unitree's $16K G1 Robot Talks, Jumps, Dances And Wants To Be Your Roommate

Robotics manufacturer Unitree has publicly announced the availability of doomsday humanoid robots for less than what it takes to buy the cheapest car in the U.S. That's for the base conscript model of course. Buyers will have to shore up if they want greater computing power, increased strength, articulating hands, and battle armor. For more peace-loving buyers, the Unitree G1 will be able help out with household chores or projects, such as cook a meal, solder like a master electrician, and replace you as your children's new parent.

Hangzhou, China-based Unitree Robotics isn't new to the mass production robotics scene. Its previous H1 model holds the world record for being the fastest full-size humanoid robot at 7.4 mph (which a good average jogging pace), while their Go2 quadruped is still one of the most affordable AI 'bots on the market, starting at $1,600. 

By employing a similar strategy with the G1, Unitree intends on undercutting Boston Dynamics' Atlas and Tesla's Optimus price-wise, or at the very least beating them to the punch in terms of availability, packaging, and capability. The G1 is also smaller and lighter than the competition, coming at 4 feet 3 inches, 80 lbs, plus be able to fold down to less than 3-feet tall for transport. 


In the release video from Unitree, the G1 demonstrates its walking, stability, traversing, flexibility, and functional abilities. At one point, a person tries to push and trip the robot, but it stays upright using its AI and torquey joint motors (88 lb-ft, which is merely 30 shy of said cheapest car in the U.S.). In all forms, the G1, with 360-degree vision (through its 3D Lidar and depth cameras) can jump, walk (at 4.4 mph), navigate, spin, and climb stairs like a pro, often outperforming most humans in stability under duress and joint flexibility.



We think $16,000 really is a steal for the entry model G1, although Unitree is tightlipped about what the top-line G1 EDU version goes for.