Unitree G1 robot moves faster on wheels
The humanoid Unitree G1 robot is now moving fast on wheels. It has also learned to skate.
The humanoid G1 moves very agilely on wheels.
(Image: Unitree Robotics / Screenshot)
Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics has put its humanoid robot G1 on wheels. The robot thus combines locomotion on legs with locomotion on wheels. On suitable smooth surfaces, the robot can move faster but retains the ability to advance in more difficult terrain and climb stairs, for example. The robot also cuts a fine figure on skates.
Unitree has experimentally fitted each leg of its humanoid G1 robot with a wheel instead of a foot. The robot can thus move faster than on legs alone. However, Unitree does not provide exact details on the maximum speed on wheels. The goal is likely to test to what extent the combination of wheels and legs is suitable for choosing the fastest and most effective means of locomotion depending on the surface. After all, moving on wheels is not only faster but also significantly more energy-efficient than walking.
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The G1 robot is very agile on wheels. In a video, it performs dynamic movements, switching between driving and walking, performing 360-degree turns, one-legged pirouettes, and forward somersaults. Through “embodied intelligence,” it manages to coordinate movements so that it can maintain balance even with different movement combinations. However, here is a reminder that this is a demonstration video. It is unclear how many times a sequence of movements had to be repeated until it could be recorded perfectly.
Unitree has also put its G1 robot on rollerblades and ice skates. In these cases, it retains its feet. The movements are similar to those of humans who practice these sports. These movements were also trained into it through reinforcement learning (RL).
G1-D for work
Unitree already has the G1-D, a semi-humanoid robot in its lineup, which moves on wheels. However, it does not have legs but a differentially driven wheeled chassis on which a humanoid body with arms is mounted. It reaches speeds of up to 1.5 m/s, is 1.68 m tall, and weighs around 80 kg. There is also a smaller stationary version. Unitree specifies data collection and training as the intended use for the G1-D.
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In principle, it should be suitable for use in factories, performing tasks with its movable arms, each with seven degrees of freedom, grippers, or humanoid hands. In total, it has 19 degrees of freedom. This includes a flexible hip joint, allowing for a vertical working range of approximately 2 m. In logistics and possibly assembly areas, unlike the stationary version, it can be flexibly mobile on wheels and used in different locations.
(olb)
