Unitree plans to sell its R1 humanoid robot on AliExpress

In short: Unitree Robotics is preparing to list its lower-priced R1 humanoid robot for international buyers on AliExpress.

What happened

Unitree Robotics, a Chinese robot maker, is preparing to sell its most affordable humanoid robot, called the Unitree R1, through AliExpress, an online marketplace owned by Alibaba. Reports cited by WIRED say the rollout will initially cover North America, Japan, Singapore, and Europe. A specific on-sale date has not been confirmed, but it could appear as soon as this week.

Unitree already sells another humanoid robot on AliExpress, the G1. That model is listed at just under $19,000. The R1 is meant to be cheaper, with a current base price in China of 29,900 yuan, or about $4,370, down from about $5,900 when it was announced last summer.

The R1 is about 4 feet tall and weighs around 50 pounds. It has 26 powered joints and can respond to voice commands. It also includes software tools for developers (like a starter kit for writing your own programs). Unitree has shown videos of the robot doing athletic moves like cartwheels and standing up from the floor.

Why it matters

Seeing a humanoid robot sold next to everyday electronics makes the idea feel more like buying a gadget than ordering lab equipment. But the R1 is not a “do chores” robot, since it lacks hands with fully moving fingers and is not built for strong lifting. For most buyers, at least for now, it is more like a usable platform for testing and learning, or a conversation piece that can walk and do stunts.

Source: Wired