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What just happened? You could soon own a fully functional humanoid robot for household chores without breaking the bank. Chinese robotics company Unitree has introduced the G1, a highly capable humanoid bot priced at just $16,000 for the base model and is now ready for mass production.
For years, Unitree has been offering robots that perform similarly to models from companies like Boston Dynamics – except at significantly lower prices. One example is the Unitree Go2, a Boston Dynamics Spot equivalent, which starts at just $1,600, compared to Spot's hefty $74,500 price tag.
Now, with the G1, Unitree appears to be employing a similar strategy of undercutting competitors. While details on its full capabilities are still limited, the specs and demos revealed so far are impressive for its price point.
Standing 4 ft. 3 in. tall and weighing 80 pounds, the G1 is compact but powerful. It can walk at 4.5 mph, jump, climb stairs, and even perform full-body spins and gymnastic moves with ease, thanks to its 23 degrees of freedom in the joints. In the promo video, it maintains balance like a pro, even when shoved or kicked. Another video shows it standing up from lying flat on the floor without using its arms.
The best part is that it seems to achieve all this at remarkable speeds and with a dexterity that rivals top athletes. Many of its joints also move in unique, non-human ways, enabling some impressive actions, such as folding up completely for easy transportation.
However, the G1 isn't just a show-off robot designed to impress your friends; it can genuinely assist around the home. A combination of sensors allow it to respond to voice commands and navigate your home autonomously. Additionally, the higher-end models come equipped with articulated hands that can grasp and manipulate objects, and even perform delicate tasks like soldering electronics.
While you'll need to pay extra for the premium models with advanced articulated hands, even the base G1 can assist with household chores. Unitree claims that the robot can learn new skills through "imitation and reinforcement learning," so in theory, you could teach it to cook, clean, do laundry, and more simply by demonstrating these tasks a few times.
Under its synthetic skin, the G1 features impressive hardware. The LED-ringed face houses 3D lidar and depth cameras for vision, along with a microphone array for voice control. It also includes a 9000mAh battery, providing up to two hours of use. With an output of 88 lb-ft of torque, its joints offer as much force as a small car.
While there's no word on the pricing of higher models, you can contact sales via the G1's website for more information.