Unitree designs R1 humanoid robot to be agile and affordable - The Robot Report

Unitree, a Hangzhou-based robotics company, has introduced the R1 humanoid robot priced at $5,900, significantly more affordable than most existing humanoids, including its own previous model, the G1, which cost over $13,000. The company achieved this cost reduction by developing and manufacturing core components like motors and reducers in-house and optimizing the robot’s body structure. Founded in 2016, Unitree has a strong background in legged robots and recently secured Series C funding, valuing the company at approximately $1.7 billion. The R1 stands 1.2 meters tall, weighs 25 kg, and features 26 joint modules enabling lifelike agility demonstrated through actions such as flips and boxing moves. It integrates multimodal large models for voice and image recognition, facilitating easier development and customization, with options including a dexterous hand and enhanced computing power via NVIDIA Jetson Orin. Unlike some competitors’ humanoids, the R1 is currently remote-controlled