Will Consumer-Grade Embodied AI Explode on Quadruped Robots First?

An interesting phenomenon: humanoid robots far surpass quadruped robots in online traffic and popularity, yet their sales volume is significantly lagging behind that of quadrupeds.

During the recently concluded World Humanoid Robot Games, the buzz around humanoid robots was unprecedented, with numerous viral moments emerging and even gaining traction internationally. In contrast, previous competitions featuring quadruped robots garnered little attention and essentially went unnoticed.

One might assume that high traffic translates to better advertising effectiveness, which should subsequently boost sales. However, the reality is that humanoid robot sales are far lower than those of less popular quadruped robots. For instance, on JD.com, the unit sales data for Unitree’s quadruped robot Go2 shows over 3,000 units sold. Meanwhile, although the humanoid robot G1 does not display specific sales figures in its official store, a comparison of user reviews reveals that G1 has only 25 reviews, significantly fewer than the over 1,000 reviews for the Go2.

Furthermore, Unitree’s product revenue structure announced on September 2, 2024, indicates that quadruped robots accounted for 65% of its revenue, while humanoid robots accounted for 30%. Additionally, according to data from GGII (Gaogong Robot Industry Research Institute), Unitree delivered over 1,500 humanoid robots in 2024, whereas annual sales of quadruped robots reached 23,700 units.

Price is undoubtedly a key factor influencing the sales disparity between humanoid and quadruped robots. Many humanoid robots are priced at least ten times higher than quadrupeds. Consumers often hesitate when facing price tags in the range of 100,000 RMB for humanoid robots, whereas the approximately 10,000 RMB price point for quadrupeds is more accessible to users.

However, price is merely a superficial factor reflecting the gap in sales; it underscores deeper differences in industrial development between humanoid and quadruped robots.

Currently, there is significant controversy in the industry regarding the technical pathways for humanoid robots. For instance, hardware paths have not yet converged; standards for key components remain ununified, facing consistency issues across the supply chain such as reducers and joints. Moreover, for humanoid robots to enter homes and perform more tasks, they require more intelligent control models. However, the current capability of humanoid robot models is still far from being ready for home use. Additionally, the high R&D costs for both hardware and models are major obstacles to mass production and home adoption.

Compared to humanoid robots, quadruped robots have relatively unified hardware standards and do not require as complex a range of components. Quadrupeds have already reached a certain level of consensus on drive systems, body structures, and key parts, which is crucial for their industrialization. Only with relatively unified hardware standards can the industrialization process advance rapidly.

Furthermore, quadruped robots have lower requirements for generalization capabilities compared to general-purpose humanoid robots. Industrial quadruped robots typically perform relatively simple tasks. Consumer-oriented quadruped robots, on the other hand, focus more on meeting users' emotional needs and companionship value, placing less emphasis on specific work content than humanoid robots do.

Although new humanoid robot models are frequently launched and demonstrate impressive skills, they are generally still constrained by challenges in technology, cost, and price. Their functionality falls far short of meeting the demands of complex home scenarios, and they lack significant attributes in entertainment and companionship.

Most importantly, despite imperfect functionalities, humanoid robots remain expensive. Price is always a critical hurdle for consumers.

If Embodied AI is to target the consumer market, it must possess entertainment and companionship attributes and be priced affordably enough to promote widespread adoption. Although some manufacturers have introduced small humanoid robots priced under 50,000 yuan, these models lack significant functional highlights, leaning more toward performance demonstrations, and their companionship capabilities are relatively weak.

Given these factors—cost, price, technical capability, hardware standardization, and mass production difficulty—quadruped robots are undoubtedly the best carrier for Embodied AI to enter the consumer market at present.

A Half-Century of Evolution

The underlying technological logic of quadruped robots is actually the same as that of humanoid robots. However, quadrupeds mimic the limb movement patterns of animals (especially dogs). This approach allows them to adapt to various complex terrains through the coordination of their four legs, meaning they often outperform humanoid robots in specific scenarios and have already achieved practical applications before humanoids did. This is one of the key reasons why the market demands not only humanoid robots but also the continued development of quadruped products.

The evolution of quadruped robots can be traced back to the mid-20th century. In 1968, Ralph Moshe from General Electric in the US designed a quadrupedal mechanical device called the 'Walking Truck' to assist infantry in traversing rugged terrain. Later, in 1976, Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan developed the KUMO-I quadruped robot, which possessed certain adaptive capabilities. However, due to imperfections in sensor and algorithm technologies, these early quadruped products lacked sufficient intelligence and flexibility.

Quadruped robots experienced a technological breakthrough in the early 2000s. In 2005, Boston Dynamics released Big Dog, a quadruped robot capable of walking in the wild and carrying heavy loads. Subsequent series like Cheetah and Little Dog demonstrated good passability and speed. In the 2010s, Boston Dynamics introduced an even lighter quadruped robot, Spot. The video of Spot Mini, released by Boston Dynamics in 2016, went viral across the internet, giving the public a more intuitive understanding of quadruped robots and sparking greater imagination about what robotic dogs could achieve.

Subsequently, domestic companies such as Unitree Robotics and DeepRobotics entered the quadruped robot industry. Unitree launched Laikago in 2017, while DeepRobotics introduced Jiuying in 2018. By 2019, Unitree and DeepRobotics respectively released Aliengo and Jiuying X10. At this stage, quadruped robots had seen significant improvements in capabilities such as motion stability and began to show prototypes of future intelligent robotics.

Entering the 2020s, quadruped robots began to enter the popularization phase. Breakthroughs in large models enabled quadruped robots to integrate with AI, while mature algorithms and hardware made them smarter. Quadrupeds from companies like Unitree and DeepRobotics have started entering real-world scenarios. The release of Unitree's Go1 in 2021 marked the beginning of companion mobile robots. Furthermore, application scenarios for quadrupeds have expanded significantly. In 2023, Unitree's B2 and DeepRobotics' Jiuying X30 performed well in industrial fields. Quadrupeds are gradually expanding from B-end sectors like industrial inspection and security toward the consumer market, with the market scale growing steadily—for instance, Unitree sold 23,700 quadruped robots in 2024. In this new stage of development, Chinese enterprises occupy a dominant position.

Quadruped robots currently possess greater industrialization capabilities

Although humanoid robots are widely recognized in the industry as the ultimate form of Embodied AI, and consumers hold high expectations for them—anticipating they should be as versatile as humans or at least serve as assistants in household tasks—a very practical issue is that humanoid robots have not yet truly matured. They still have a long way to go before achieving genuine industrialization.

Despite being far from their ultimate goal, humanoid robot development must continue. However, during this process, the industry has begun diverting some of its efforts toward quadruped robots. Many current quadruped products come from companies deeply engaged in humanoid robotics, such as the newly launched D1 series by Zhiyuan (Zhiyuan Robot).

In fact, humanoid and quadruped robots share significant commonalities in underlying technologies. In many people's minds, humanoid robots are essentially standing-up robotic dogs, and quadruped robots are often referred to as "four-legged robotic dogs." Humanoid manufacturers leverage their existing technical accumulation, combined with the lower difficulty in manufacturing quadrupeds, which is a key reason they can rapidly produce quadruped models.

Moreover, many new entrants have chosen quadruped robots as their first product. This is partly because quadrupeds feature relatively standardized hardware components (such as actuators and structural designs) and lower technical complexity. More importantly, quadrupeds offer unique advantages in industrialization. As the industry progresses, it has become increasingly evident that quadrupeds are advancing faster toward commercial implementation within consumer-grade Embodied AI and are more likely to genuinely reach consumers. Crucially, they are more capable of generating direct cash flow.

Compared to the high price of humanoid robots, the current quadruped robots are available at consumer-grade prices as low as 10,000 yuan. In terms of cost, quadruped robots have a distinct advantage. Moreover, data shows that Unitree's sales of quadruped robots reached 23,700 units in 2024, which is sufficient proof that quadruped robots currently possess the capability for industrial implementation. Before the distant prospect of large-scale mass production and application in the field of humanoid robots, the deployment of quadruped robots is clearly more tangible and accessible.

In the field of quadruped robots, products are mainly divided into industrial-grade and consumer-grade. Industrial-grade products are primarily used in scenarios such as factories and fire safety. In the consumer market, quadruped robots focus more on applications in living environments, especially home settings, to help users solve daily problems or provide emotional value.

Among these two categories of quadruped robots, consumer-grade products account for a higher proportion. According to data released by IDC in June this year, the global quadruped robot market size exceeded $180 million in 2024, with consumer-grade quadruped robots dominating shipments, accounting for 72.1% of total market shipments. Moreover, with current technology, quadruped products have found more viable consumer scenarios, leading an increasing number of teams to invest efforts in consumer-grade quadruped robot products.

Consumer-Grade Quadruped Robots Flourish

In consumer scenarios, quadruped robots generally fall into two types. One type, such as Unitree's Go 2, Zhiyuan's D1 Pro, and Deep Robotics' Jueying Lite3, features limited "human-like" design and focuses on performance metrics, making them suitable for entertainment and performance fields. The other type, like VITA Dynamics' new quadruped robot "Big Head" and Blue Whale Technology's "BabyAlpha," resembles a "dog" more closely and serves mainly as a companion, providing emotional value to users.

The latter represents the direction many manufacturers are heavily investing in. For example, VITA Dynamics, founded at the end of 2024, officially launched the intelligent companion robot "Big Head" at the recent WRC. The team clearly positioned "Big Head" as a consumer-grade quadruped product. Its key feature is that it does not require remote control; instead, it possesses autonomous mobile capabilities via VLA (Vision-Language-Action) models and Agent visual-language interaction.

In daily life, "Big Head" can act as a little follower, helping carry bags, take photos and videos, watch over the elderly and children, and become a member of the family. According to VITA Dynamics' plan, they will launch their manufacturing plant in September, begin mass-production-level early bird testing in October, and complete the product launch by the end of this year.

In the home companionship scenario, BabyAlpha A2 from Blue Whale Technology, a veteran in consumer Embodied AI, has also set an example. In terms of appearance, BabyAlpha A2 looks more like a "dog." It can serve as a smart butler and security monitor, while also accompanying children, singing, and dancing, thereby meeting the emotional needs of family members.

Magic Dog Pro from Magic Atom can perceive user emotions and autonomously express its own, with a facial screen that displays various expressions. It employs a TOP-DOWN approach combined with depth cameras to achieve target detection, recognition, and continuous tracking, while dynamically adjusting its following speed.

Hengzhi Future's "Xiaotian" is also among the anthropomorphic quadruped products. It can perform various anthropomorphic actions such as tail wagging and acting coquettishly. Its built-in voice interaction system supports dialect recognition and personalized voice packs, and it can simulate family members' voiceprint characteristics to meet the needs of emotional companionship at home.

Among quadruped products with less anthropomorphic design, Unitree's Go2 features Chinese-English chat capabilities and can flexibly walk upside down, roll over to stand up, and climb over obstacles. Additionally, Go2 is equipped with an ultra-wide-angle 3D LiDAR and a high-definition wide-angle camera, meeting the needs of scenarios such as outdoor exploration.

The newly launched Zhiyuan D1 Pro features a lightweight body weighing 15 kg, a maximum speed of 3.7 m/s, and can jump to a height of 35 cm. It can also perform special moves like greeting and backflips, supporting its application in entertainment performance scenarios.

Deep Robotics' Jueying Lite3 utilizes "AR interaction + gesture control," eliminating the need for a remote controller. It offers an immersive first-person experience through AR glasses and gesture recognition, allowing the robot to adapt to humans.

Juwai Technology's MOVENEW T1 can be adapted for various outdoor scenarios including mountaineering, camping, and logistics transportation. They have even directly launched an "Embodied AI 4S Store," bringing a new consumer experience for robots where users can choose colors or accessories just like buying a car.

C-end Penetration Rate Expected to Match Robot Vacuums

Currently available consumer-grade quadruped robots range in price from 8,000 to 30,000 RMB. For example, Unitree’s Go2 series starts at 9,997 RMB, BlueWhale Technology’s BabyAlpha A2 series starts at 8,099 RMB, Hengzhi Future’s Xiaotian Sirius has an overseas pre-sale price of 1,299 USD, Zhiyuan’s D1 Pro is priced at 13,000 RMB, while Deep Robotics’ Jueying Lite3 series and Magic Atom’s MagicDog Pro start at 16,900 RMB and 24,999 RMB, respectively.

Compared to humanoid robots, the prices of these consumer-grade quadruped robot dogs are more acceptable to users, akin to the cost of a high-end smartphone or appliance. At the recent WAIC and WRC events, it was evident that quadruped robots capable of jumping and providing emotional value like real puppies have won the affection of many children. These family-oriented households constitute a key target customer group for consumer-grade quadruped robots.

Xu Lei, Head of the Intelligent Robotics Business Department at JD.com’s 3C Group, revealed in a dialogue with Sohu Tech and other media at the 2025 WRC that during this year’s 618 shopping festival, the overall growth rate of the intelligent robotics category exceeded 300%, with Embodied AI products seeing a 17-fold increase. He noted that current robotic consumption on the C-end is primarily concentrated in married families with children in first- and second-tier cities, who place greater emphasis on educational entertainment and companionship features. Specifically, quadruped robots and family education companion robots are the best-selling categories on JD.com.

Furthermore, Wu Changzheng, President of Magic Atom, analyzed with AI Tech Review that the penetration rate of robot dogs within the industry remains low, leaving significant room for growth. In the future, the C-end penetration rate of robot dogs may reach levels comparable to today’s robot vacuums.

Currently, many humanoid robot manufacturers are entering the quadruped space, bringing sufficient technical accumulation. Additionally, the open-source nature of certain technologies and the maturity of components—such as increased domestication rates for motors, reducers, and sensors—have lowered time and R&D costs for new entrants, significantly shortening overall verification cycles. Everyone is now exploring the application of quadruped robots in more consumer scenarios.

The Critical Node for Crossing the Chasm

While quadruped robots may one day reach consumer electronics parity with robot vacuums in the C-end market, an analysis based on "The Crossin g the Chasm" theory reveals that the current consumer quadruped robot market is still transitioning from the "Innovators" stage to the "Early Adopters" stage.

In terms of sales volume, quadruped robots remain negligible compared to consumer electronics such as smartphones and computers. The primary consumers are currently tech geeks and a small segment of households in first- and second-tier cities.

Furthermore, in terms of application scenarios, consumer quadruped robots are mainly used for family companionship, trial experiences, and entertainment performances. Although these applications yield decent results, they have not yet formed a truly "rigid demand" scenario.

However, capital remains highly optimistic about consumer quadruped robots. For instance, Vita Dynamics, established in December 2024 with its first product being a quadruped companion robot, completed three rounds of financing totaling 300 million yuan in less than half a year by May this year.

Additionally, in terms of industry development, many quadruped products have already achieved mass production and reached certain sales volumes on e-commerce platforms like JD.com, indicating that the market is in an active cultivation phase.

If consumer quadruped robots are to truly cross the chasm, they must identify a "killer" application scenario: going beyond mere companionship to perform more "work" tasks in home settings, such as guarding the house and playing a more "useful" role, much like real dogs. They must also continuously enhance user interaction experience value and maintain content ecosystems.

If a quadruped robot enters the home and users lose interest or request refunds after just the first three days, it would be a heavy blow to the sustained expansion of the quadruped market. Therefore, in the R&D of consumer-grade quadruped robots, it is crucial to prioritize continuous user experience value, continuously enrich the ecosystem of interactions and content, and extend the emotional value provided to users.

Additionally, on the pricing front, if the price of consumer-grade quadrupeds can generally drop below 5,000 yuan—comparable to that of an ordinary smartphone—they would become a cost-effective choice for households. At this price point, they not only cover the consumer base for mainstream learning tablets (3,000-5,000 yuan) and mid-to-high-end tablets (4,000-6,000 yuan), but also meet the demand for a "second smart device" in the family. When quadrupeds reach this price tier, their appeal to households will be significantly greater. Within a budget of under 5,000 yuan, the "mobile interaction" feature of quadruped robots represents a core competitiveness that fixed devices like learning tablets and standard tablets cannot replace. However, lowering the sales price requires a corresponding reduction in R&D and manufacturing costs, which will depend on future collaborative development across the entire industry chain to achieve cost reductions in key components.

Although current sales volumes of consumer-grade quadruped robots are still low, they have undeniably moved beyond the stage of pure laboratory exploration and entered real-world market exploration, standing at a critical juncture of crossing the chasm.

The penetration rate and existing growth speed of quadrupeds in the real market indicate that there is still significant room for market excavation. Once quadruped robots cross the chasms regarding price, content ecosystems, and application scenarios, the incremental market potential will be immeasurable.

While current quadruped robots are not the ultimate form of Embodied AI, they represent the most realistic carrier for commercialization. As they enter family life and become true companions for children, the "iPhone moment" for consumer-grade Embodied AI may already be brewing within quadruped robots.