Unitree unveils GD01, a giant mecha robot it says it is selling

In short: Unitree, a Chinese robot company known for low-cost dancing robots, revealed a much larger “mecha” robot called GD01 and says it is selling it.

What happened

Unitree released a video showing its new robot, the GD01. A “mecha” is a big, human-shaped machine that can be piloted, like something from a sci-fi movie.

In the video, Unitree founder and CEO Xingxing Wang holds the robot’s hand and then climbs inside an open area in its torso. Unitree also added a public warning on social media asking people to use the robot “in a Friendly and Safe manner.”

The video then shows the GD01 moving in different ways, including walking, crawling, and bending backward. It also shows the robot smashing through a wall made of cinder blocks, first with a person inside and later with no visible pilot on board.

Unitree told WIRED that the GD01 is a real product the company is selling, not a prank. This is a change from what Unitree is best known for, smaller four-legged and humanoid robots that often appear online doing dance moves, acrobatics, and martial arts routines.

Why it matters

Unitree has built a reputation for selling robots at lower prices than many competitors, helped by China’s large manufacturing network and parts suppliers. Even so, WIRED notes that Unitree’s robots today tend to be either remotely controlled or limited to simple self-directed actions, and they are not designed for complicated everyday work. The GD01 seems aimed more at attention and spectacle than practical use, and it also raises obvious questions about safety when a machine is shown breaking walls.

Source: Wired