Unitree Robotics has unveiled the mass production version of its G1 humanoid robot, priced at $16,000, marking a significant milestone in making advanced robotics more accessible to researchers, businesses, and enthusiasts alike. As reported by New Atlas, this affordable and capable robot showcases impressive features including complex movements, advanced vision systems, and dexterous three-fingered hands, positioning it as a potential game-changer in the competitive humanoid robotics market.
Standing at 1.32 meters tall and weighing 35 kg, the G1 robot boasts impressive capabilities for its compact size. It features 23 degrees of freedom, allowing for complex movements like jumping, spinning, and stair climbing, with a walking speed of up to 2 meters per second12. The robot's advanced vision system includes an Intel RealSense D435 depth camera and a Livox MID-360 lidar puck, enabling precise environmental perception and navigation13.
The G1 is equipped with three-fingered hands capable of delicate tasks, a noise-canceling microphone array for voice commands, and a 5-W stereo speaker for audio responses45. Powered by a quick-release 9,000-mAh battery, it offers around two hours of operation per charge, with internal cable routing for clean aesthetics and snag-free operation5.
Priced at just $16,000, the G1 represents a dramatic cost reduction in the humanoid robot market, making it 90% cheaper than Unitree's previous H1 model1. This aggressive pricing strategy positions the G1 as an attractive option for a wide range of users, from research institutions to businesses exploring robotic automation1. The affordability of the G1 is particularly noteworthy when compared to competitors like Boston Dynamics' Spot, which was priced at $74,500 in 20201. By offering advanced robotics at a fraction of the cost of its rivals, Unitree aims to democratize access to humanoid technology and potentially capture a significant share of the growing robotics market.
Positioned as a versatile platform for research and development in humanoid robotics, the G1 is not yet intended for consumer tasks like cooking or housekeeping. Its learning capabilities are powered by Unitree's Robot Unified Large Model (UnifoLM), enabling skill acquisition through imitation and reinforcement learning1. This makes the G1 particularly appealing to research institutions, universities, and businesses experimenting with robotic automation. While competing with industry giants like Tesla's Optimus and Boston Dynamics' Atlas, Unitree's strategy of offering advanced features at a fraction of the cost could potentially disrupt the humanoid robotics market, paving the way for broader adoption across various industries12.
While Unitree has announced that the G1 is ready for mass production, the exact status of manufacturing remains unclear. Engineers have been fine-tuning the robot since its May reveal to meet mass production requirements, including tweaks to its appearance and performance improvements1. The company describes this latest update as a "mass production version," though it hasn't explicitly confirmed that large-scale manufacturing is underway1. This development aligns with China's ambitious goal to mass-produce advanced humanoid robots by 2025, potentially positioning Unitree as a key player in the country's robotics industry2.