Latest news with #Unitree Robotics
Digital Trends
6 days ago
- Digital Trends
This remarkable ‘robot dog' will send a shiver down your spine
Unitree Robotics recently dazzled us with its R1 humanoid robot, and now it's unveiled something even more astonishing: a super-robust dog-like robot called the A2 Stellar Explorer. In a video released by the Chinese company this week, the A2 makes quite an entrance, smashing through a pane of glass as if to say, 'If there is ever a robot takeover, I'll be leading it.' Suffering zero damage except perhaps for a couple of scratches on its tough metal exterior, the A2, which has autonomous capabilities, is then shown flipping forward across uneven ground before performing a balancing act involving just a single leg. This thing can run, too, featuring s a top speed of 11.2 mph (about 18 kph). Not quick enough for you? Then you can stick on a set of wheels to make it go even faster. Next up, we see someone jumping up and down on the A2, with the robot's legs able to handle the heavy load with ease. Indeed, the quadruped can comfortably carry a payload of up to 55 pounds (25 kg) while walking and 221 pounds (100 kg) while standing. You won't be surprised to learn that climbing up giant concrete steps is a piece of cake for the robot, as well as sprinting down a flight of smaller ones. The remarkable machine uses ultra-wide Lidar 3D perception technology to make sense of its surroundings. It also features a front-facing HD camera and advanced computing options to help developers push its autonomous capabilities even further. It also comes with two batteries that are easy to swap out, though there's no information on run times. The company has yet to announce cost and availability for the A2 robot, but if it's anything like the R1, the price tag could be surprisingly reasonable. Unitree, which launched in 2016, says the A2 is designed for industrial and civilian tasks, and on its YouTube page says: 'Please everyone, be sure to use the robot in a friendly and safe manner.' But watching it in action, it's clear that the technology on display makes this robot and others like it plausible candidates for future military deployment. Indeed, the U.S. Army has already tested at least one such design — armed with an AI-enabled gun turret — while China's PLA has also been trialing its own quadruped robots.
South China Morning Post
06-08-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
World robotics conference in China marks 10th year with JD.com as strategic partner
At the conference, which will run from Friday to Tuesday, would announce 'a major strategic plan to promote the development of the robotics industry and further deepen strategic cooperation with intelligent robot brands', the company said in a statement on Tuesday posted on the event's website. is expected to collaborate with some of the country's leading humanoid robot makers, including Unitree Robotics and AgiBot , on an immersive, hi-tech exhibition area at the conference. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. 01:44 Beijing hosts World Robot Conference as China eyes expanding humanoid robot market Beijing hosts World Robot Conference as China eyes expanding humanoid robot market has been making investments in humanoid robot technology since March and has set up internal units focused on robotics, according to a report by the Shanghai Securities Journal.
South China Morning Post
06-08-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Sit down, Spot: Robot dog from China's Unitree tops Boston Dynamics rival in payload
Unitree Robotics introduced a quadruped robot that can hold as much as 100kg, albeit only when stationary, as Chinese companies continue to challenge Western rivals on both price and performance. Called the A2, the robot dog can withstand an adult standing and even hopping on it, according to a video published by the company on social media on Tuesday. When in motion, the unit's payload falls to 25kg, but that outperforms rival four-legged robot Spot from US-based Boston Dynamics, which has a maximum payload of 14kg, according to specifications. Unitree said the A2 was suitable for 'logistics, industrial inspection and emergency rescue' in 'extreme and complex environments'. Constructed from aluminium alloy and high-strength engineering plastic, the machine was designed for demanding environments, Unitree said. In the video, the dog somersaults down stairs, hops on two legs, spins while supporting itself on one leg and rushes down steep slopes. The unit could operate for three hours when fully loaded, which could extend to five hours when unencumbered, Unitree said. Spot has an average runtime of one and a half hours and a standby time of three hours. Both models can operate in temperatures between minus 20 and 55 degrees Celsius, but the A2 can climb a slope of 45 degrees, better than Spot's maximum of 30 degrees.
South China Morning Post
01-08-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Chinese shoppers in Shenzhen can now rent a customised robot alongside their groceries
A store near a bustling shopping centre in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen feels more like a small robotics fair, with all kinds of robots – from humanoid assistants to food delivery bots and massage machines – quietly drawing curious eyes. Advertisement Amid the excited chatter of children accompanying their parents, company owners, investors and tech enthusiasts busily exchange contact details and discuss collaboration. Some hope to place their own robots in the newly opened 60 square metre (646 sq ft) store; others are looking to make a purchase. China's robotics industry has expanded rapidly in recent years and is now eyeing vast consumer and service markets – a familiar playbook for the country's manufacturers. The Future Era store, which opened in Shenzhen's Longgang district on Monday, bills itself as the world's first '6S' robot store – offering leasing and customisation services in addition to the traditional '4S' retail staples of a showroom, sales, spare parts and customer service. Customers can browse the many models on display and then choose to buy, rent or even build their own by selecting components that suit their needs. Advertisement The store showcases robots from companies such as Hangzhou-based Unitree Robotics, and Shenzhen's Engine AI and Leju Robot, with daily rental prices ranging from around 5,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan (US$695 to US$2,781).
South China Morning Post
30-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Beijing to ‘exert strength' to drive growth; China's dynamic cities: SCMP daily highlights
Catch up on some of SCMP's biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing China has vowed to maintain its macro policy support for the rest of 2025 as the country seeks to navigate economic risks – both external and internal – in the second half of the year and plan for its next half-decade of development. Shanghai and parts of China's east coast are bracing for a severe tropical storm after a tsunami yellow alert for the region was cancelled on Wednesday, following a massive earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka peninsula. Hangzhou has emerged as a major Chinese technology hub, nurturing high-profile companies including humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics. Photo: Handout China's most dynamic local economies are no longer metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai, but lesser-known cities including Hangzhou and Hefei, according to a new report by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
