Chinese developers have unveiled a piloted transforming robot
The Chinese company Unitree Robotics has unveiled its new piloted robot, the GD01, which can change its mode of locomotion and switch from bipedal mode to moving on four "legs."
This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
The robot, together with the pilot, weighs 500 kg, and the starting price of the new model is estimated at 3.9 million yuan—approximately $574,000. However, the company has not yet disclosed the full technical specifications of the model.
In a demonstration video, the GD01 was shown in motion as a humanoid robot. With a pilot inside, the machine walks on two legs and even breaks through a brick wall with its hand. After that, the robot changes its configuration and switches to a four-legged mode, allowing it to move effectively across rough terrain.
Unitree Robotics also issued a warning to users, urging them not to attempt dangerous stunts.
The company emphasized that modern humanoid robotics is still in the early experimental stage and has a number of functional limitations for private use.
The robot’s debut sparked lively discussion on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Users noted that technologies that until recently existed only in science fiction films are gradually becoming a reality.
At the same time, many commenters pointed out the extremely high price of the GD01, which currently makes the robot unaffordable for most people in China. Experts suggest that the mass-produced version may have a different price depending on its configuration and technical capabilities.
Unitree Robotics was founded in 2016 and is now considered one of the world’s leading manufacturers of robotic systems, including robot dogs and humanoid robots.
According to sources, the company shipped over 5,500 humanoid robots to the market last year alone, confirming the rapid growth in demand for such technologies.
Earlier, the Chinese company Unitree Robotics announced the launch of international sales of its affordable R1 humanoid robot on the AliExpress platform as early as next week. This will allow buyers from North America, Europe, Japan, and Singapore to purchase the device, which is positioned as a sports robot with advanced capabilities.
Scientists have tested a new semi-autonomous robot capable of exploring the surface of Mars faster than traditional rovers. It moves independently between objects and conducts analysis without constant control from Earth. This approach significantly speeds up the search for signs of possible life.
