Unitree Robotics unveils G1 humanoid for $16K

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Unitree Robotics unveiled its newest technology G1 humanoid robotic at ICRA 2024. The unique Unitree H1 humanoid was first launched in 2023 and made well-known in a lot of movies demonstrating its balancing and strolling capabilities.

The Unitree H1 was a preferred demo throughout the CES 2024, the place the Unitree sales space was slammed all through the present. In April, Unitree introduced the H1 to NVIDIA GTC and walked the robotic by means of the crowded aisles.

Unitree has turn out to be well-known within the early days of the humanoid race as the primary humanoid robotic to take the robotic off of its tether and stroll it round in public, assured within the robotic’s potential to steadiness and stand with out falling on anybody.

Unitree has been energetic over the past 12 months, producing a lot of movies of the H1 humanoid, typically in response to advertising and marketing movies from rivals like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Tesla, Determine and Apptronik. The movies from Unitree function human wranglers pushing, kicking, and shoving the robotic to indicate its agility and skill to steadiness. That is an homage to the early Boston Dynamics Atlas movies made well-known for “robotic bullying.”

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Unitree additionally confirmed an electric-powered humanoid doing a flip on flat floor. This was yet one more homage to the well-known Boston Dynamics hydraulic-powered Atlas robotic doing related athletic and parkour stunts. Notably, because it launched the H1, Unitree has tried to set itself other than the humanoid pack from a robotic strolling, working, and balancing perspective.

Enter the Unitree G1 humanoid

The very first thing you discover in regards to the new Unitree G1 humanoid is that it’s considerably smaller in dimension and stature than the H1 humanoid. The Unitree H1 is the scale of a mean grownup (180 cm), whereas the Unitree G1 is the scale of an common eight 12 months outdated (127cm).

The smaller stature and design of the G1 requires much less materials and might use smaller motors than the H1, but each models weigh about the identical (47 kg). With a smaller robotic, you’d count on to have a cheaper invoice of supplies. The G1 has an inventory worth of $16,000 (base configuration) whereas the H1 has a base worth of $90,000.

The Unitree G1 humanoid is shorter than its predecessor, the Unitree H1 humanoid. | Credit score: Nathan Peterman

“Relating to the design and manufacturing of robots, each element is important so as to enhance efficiency and cut back prices,” Unitree stated when requested how it’s lowering the price of the G1 to such a low entry level. “For instance, cut back the variety of wires and cables, cut back the variety of chips, cut back screws, and many others. These could appear fundamental, however are literally very important and vital.

“Apart from the chips, nearly all of the {hardware} of our robots is designed by ourselves. By our previous robotic design and manufacturing expertise, this has higher efficiency and decrease price. Though it could appear opposite to frequent sense, for instance, the motors and reducers are all fashions designed by us.”

As as to whether the H1 would turn out to be out of date with the launch of the G1, Unitree advertising and marketing director Duke Huang stated, “Completely not. H1 continues to be our strongest humanoid robotic and [we’ll] proceed to take care of and assist prospects. There’s a massive distinction between H1 and G1 when it comes to dimension, worth, and efficiency. G1 is extra compact, extra lovely, comparatively small, and simple to make use of and preserve. After all, as a result of its smaller dimension, its energy efficiency continues to be far behind H1.”

The Unitree G1 has a lot of options and might be optioned from the entry-level unit to the totally featured model. | Credit score: Unitree Robotics

Based on Unitree, the G1 humanoid might be optioned with articulating, force-controlled, three-fingered fingers, which might additional be optioned with tactile suggestions. The robotic battery has an working time of “about 2 hours” and is designed to be shortly swapped out. For sensors, the robotic options 3D LiDAR and Intel RealSense D435 cameras.

The robotic additionally contains a quick strolling velocity of two,000 mm/s (4.5 MPH). That is quick for any of the competing humanoids or AMRs at the moment in the marketplace.

Goal marketplace for Unitree G1 humanoid

With its diminutive stature, this design determination successfully eliminates Unitree G1 from a sensible human labor substitute, because it gained’t be capable of attain the identical work envelope as a human employee. So the query stays, what market is the Unitree G1 designed for?

With its entry-level worth, nimble kinematic design, giant joint working vary, and optionally available options, the G1 is likely to be a wonderful analysis platform for college labs. The G1 might provide a faster begin for a lab that desires a platform for creating new embodied AI algorithms. Unitree is a NVIDIA companion, and the G1 EDU model might be optioned with an NVIDIA ORIN controller which delivers the computing energy for stylish mannequin growth. The truth that Unitree additionally launched the product at ICRA, implies that R&D is the preliminary goal utility for the G1.

Because of its small dimension, G1 gained’t be capable of attain a typical workbench, kitchen, or family surroundings. Nevertheless, basis fashions developed on G1 might doubtless be utilized to the H1 model.