Unitree won't release humanoid household robots for now

The Chinese robotics company Unitree is at the forefront of humanoid robot development worldwide, but does not intend to launch any household robots on the market in the foreseeable future. Instead, the company wants to concentrate on humanoid industrial robots. The safety requirements for household robots are very high and can only be met with great difficulty, writes the China Morning Post on Monday.

The market for household robots will only be tackled after the introduction of humanoid robots for industry, says Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree. Much more safety aspects need to be considered for such robots, he said. "It’s not easy to predict exactly how long it would take, [but] I think it wouldn’t happen in the next two or three years", Wang said at a government event last week, according to the China Morning Post.

Humanoid robots for industry

Unitree is currently focusing on full-body motion control with its H1 and G1 humanoid robots. The company already holds several records with the acrobatic performances of its robots, for example in the long jump from a standing position. Unitree has also made its humanoid G1 robot fit for industrial use and is preparing it for mass production. The 1.32 m tall robot is primarily intended to score points in industrial applications with its dexterous hands and be used in manufacturing. The larger G1 robot, on the other hand, is intended for rougher industrial work.

However, Unitree's robots still have their shortcomings in the household – probably another reason for the company not to enter the household robot market early on with its humanoid robots. Other companies are already further ahead and are focusing their development on household robots. These include the robotics company 1X. The humanoid Neo is designed for household applications. However, it will be a "few years" before the robot is ready for the market.

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(olb)