Unitree Robotics’ G1 model has received upgrades that make it more capable than ever before

Unitree Robotics has grown by leaps and bounds since 2016.

So much so that the Chinese startup’s G1 humanoid robot has just been updated into a mass-production version, New Atlas reported on Monday. That means the droid has received stronger performance and an even better appearance, according to the company, plus it adheres more to mass-production guidelines.

The G1 model debuted just a few months ago, and already the Unitree team has treated it to some significant upgrades. The basic specs remain largely the same, though: The G1 measures in at 1.3 metres and 35 kilograms. Its visor-like face features 3-D LiDAR and a depth camera, while a noise-cancelling microphone allows for voice commands and a stereo speaker lets it respond. Once it’s fully charged, the robot can run for about two hours before needing more juice.

As for what the robot can actually do, a new video gives us a sense of the G1’s capabilities. It can jump, turn around, and even break into some funky dancing. When ascending and descending stairs, the robot can avoid debris strewn about and calibrate its steps to maneuver different heights. Plus, it can run (although only up to 7.24 km/hr) and maintain its balance when facing up with human foes.

While the US$16,000 robot is available for purchase, it’s unclear whether Unitree has actually started mass production of the model, New Atlas noted. If and when it hits the mass market, it’s also facing competition from other companies getting into the humanoid-robot game. Boston Dynamics released earlier this year a similar robot that’s just as capable as Unitree’s model, if not more so. And just this month, BMW announced that it had carried out autonomous testing of the Figure 02, which was helping to create the marque’s vehicles. (Mercedes-Benz has similarly said that it’s going to start using humanoid robots to help build its cars, too.)

Unitree’s G1 hasn’t helped out with any vehicles—yet—but it may be more useful for day-to-day tasks. An earlier video shows it flipping food in a frying pan, for example. I, for one, wouldn’t mind a robot making me a grilled cheese or an omelet sometime soon, but that may be the extent of my interactions with the robot world.

This story was first published on Robb Report USA. Featured photo by Unitree Robotics/YouTube