Unitree Unveils New Humanoid Robot, Starting at Just 39,900 Yuan—Now Truly Affordable

Unitree Robotics has just unveiled its third humanoid robot product, the Unitree R1.

Unitree R1 starts at a price of 39,900 yuan and weighs only 25 kilograms. It features 26 joints in total, with six joints per leg, five joints per arm, and two joints each for the head and waist. Integrated with a multimodal large model for voice and image, it supports development and customization. While the exact height data for the R1 has not yet been released, based on comparisons with guardrails in videos, its height appears to be just over one meter.

In this video lasting just over one minute, Unitree demonstrates several capabilities of the R1. First, on flat terrain, the robot exerts full-body force to instantly perform lateral somersaults.

Next, the Unitree R1 moves onto a grassy area, where it can execute handstands and walk forward slowly.

Afterwards, the Unitree R1 can even box, with its hands and legs moving at very high speeds.

In terms of other basic capabilities, the Unitree R1 can take large strides on grass, running at a speed comparable to that of humans.

At the end of this one-minute-plus video, Unitree outlined its roadmap for humanoid robots: diversity in motion is a prerequisite for work—meaning you must be able to move well before you can work effectively. Currently, many robotics companies in the industry are entering factories to collaborate with humans. However, the humanoid robots demonstrated by Unitree have primarily showcased 'performative' abilities such as dancing and boxing, leading some to question their actual work capabilities.

In fact, the Unitree R1 is already Unitree Technology's third humanoid robot. In 2023 and 2024, Unitree respectively released the Unitree H1 and Unitree G1.

In May 2024, the Unitree G1 humanoid robot was launched, starting at a price of 99,000 yuan, which caused significant ripples in the industry at the time. Unitree G1 basic specifications include a height of approximately 1.3 meters and a weight of about 35 kilograms.

In terms of mobility, its trotting speed exceeds 2 m/s. It features 23 to 43 joint motors, with a maximum joint torque reaching 120 N・m, enabling complex dynamic movements such as standing up dynamically, folding into a seated position, and performing stick dances. Regarding manipulation and interaction, the G1 offers an optional Dex 3-1 force-controlled dexterous hand. Combined with advanced hybrid force-position control technology, it can sensitively and reliably mimic human hand movements, achieving precise object manipulation such as grasping, carrying, and screwing bolts.

Regarding battery life, the G1 introduces a quickly detachable power module, supporting up to 2 hours of operation.

In August 2023, Unitree released its first general-purpose humanoid robot, the Unitree H1, which stands 1.8 meters tall and weighs approximately 47 kg. The robot has had several notable moments; at this year's CCTV Spring Festival Gala, the Unitree H1 appeared on stage, performing a 'cyber yangko dance' for a global audience.

In terms of mobility, the Unitree H1 can achieve a movement speed of 3.3 m/s and possesses potential motion performance exceeding 5 m/s. Its maximum joint torque is 360 N・m, with a peak torque density of 189 N・m/Kg. On the perception side, the H1 is equipped with a 3D LiDAR and depth camera to acquire high-precision spatial data and panoramic scans in real time, offering 360° panoramic depth perception capabilities.

Additionally, the Unitree H1 is equipped with an 864 Wh battery that supports quick replacement.

Unitree has been making frequent moves recently, with progress in listing and commercialization occurring shortly before the launch of its new humanoid robot model, the R1.

On July 18, the official website of the China Securities Regulatory Commission showed that Flexiv Technology disclosed its辅导备案报告 (guidance filing report) for the initial public offering and listing, with CITIC Securities serving as the guidance institution.

In terms of commercialization, on July 11, Flexiv Technology and Zhìyuán won a procurement project for humanoid bipedal robot contract manufacturing services from China Mobile (Hangzhou) Information Technology Co., Ltd., with a scale of 124 million yuan.

Wang Xingxing previously stated at the Summer Davos Forum that Flexiv Technology's annual revenue has exceeded 1 billion yuan, achieving profitability for five consecutive years since 2020.