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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 various movies demonstrating its balancing and strolling capabilities.

The Unitree H1 was a well-liked 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 way of the crowded aisles.

Unitree has grow 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 capability to stability and stand with out falling on anybody.

Unitree has been lively during the last yr, producing various movies of the H1 humanoid, usually in response to advertising and marketing movies from opponents like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Tesla, Determine and Apptronik. The movies from Unitree characteristic human wranglers pushing, kicking, and shoving the robotic to point out its agility and skill to stability. 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 comparable 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, operating, and balancing perspective.

Enter the Unitree G1 humanoid

The very first thing you discover concerning the new Unitree G1 humanoid is that it’s considerably smaller in measurement and stature than the H1 humanoid. The Unitree H1 is the dimensions of a median grownup (180 cm), whereas the Unitree G1 is the dimensions of an common eight yr outdated (127cm).

The smaller stature and design of the G1 requires much less materials and might use smaller motors than the H1, but each items weigh about the identical (47 kg). With a smaller robotic, you’d count on to have a inexpensive invoice of supplies. The G1 has an inventory value of $16,000 (base configuration) whereas the H1 has a base value 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 scale back prices,” Unitree mentioned when requested how it’s decreasing the price of the G1 to such a low entry level. “For instance, scale back the variety of wires and cables, scale back the variety of chips, scale back screws, and so on. These could appear fundamental, however are literally very important and essential.

“Apart from the chips, virtually 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 value. 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 grow to be out of date with the launch of the G1, Unitree advertising and marketing director Duke Huang mentioned, “Completely not. H1 continues to be our strongest humanoid robotic and [we’ll] proceed to keep up and assist clients. There’s a huge distinction between H1 and G1 when it comes to measurement, value, and efficiency. G1 is extra compact, extra stunning, comparatively small, and simple to make use of and preserve. In fact, because of its smaller measurement, its energy efficiency continues to be far behind H1.”

The Unitree G1 has various options and will be optioned from the entry-level unit to the absolutely featured model. | Credit score: Unitree Robotics

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

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

Goal marketplace for Unitree G1 humanoid

With its diminutive stature, this design choice successfully eliminates Unitree G1 from a sensible human labor alternative, because it gained’t be capable to 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 value, nimble kinematic design, giant joint working vary, and non-compulsory options, the G1 is likely to be a wonderful analysis platform for college labs. The G1 might supply a faster begin for a lab that wishes a platform for growing new embodied AI algorithms. Unitree is a NVIDIA companion, and the G1 EDU model will be optioned with an NVIDIA ORIN controller which delivers the computing energy for classy mannequin improvement. The truth that Unitree additionally launched the product at ICRA, implies that R&D is the preliminary goal software for the G1.

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