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Unitree Robotics unveiled its newest era G1 humanoid robotic at ICRA 2024. The unique Unitree H1 humanoid was first launched in 2023 and made well-known in quite a few movies demonstrating its balancing and strolling capabilities.
The Unitree H1 was a preferred demo throughout the CES 2024, the place the Unitree sales space was slammed all through the present. In April, Unitree introduced the H1 to NVIDIA GTC and walked the robotic via the crowded aisles.
Unitree has change into well-known within the early days of the humanoid race as the primary humanoid robotic to take the robotic off of its tether and stroll it round in public, assured within the robotic’s skill to steadiness and stand with out falling on anybody.
Unitree has been energetic during the last yr, producing quite a few movies of the H1 humanoid, typically in response to advertising movies from opponents like Boston Dynamics, Agility Robotics, Tesla, Determine and Apptronik. The movies from Unitree characteristic human wranglers pushing, kicking, and shoving the robotic to point out its agility and talent to steadiness. That is an homage to the early Boston Dynamics Atlas movies made well-known for “robotic bullying.”
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Unitree additionally confirmed an electric-powered humanoid doing a flip on flat floor. This was one more homage to the well-known Boston Dynamics hydraulic-powered Atlas robotic doing related athletic and parkour stunts. Notably, because it launched the H1, Unitree has tried to set itself other than the humanoid pack from a robotic strolling, working, and balancing perspective.
Enter the Unitree G1 humanoid
The very first thing you discover in regards to the new Unitree G1 humanoid is that it’s considerably smaller in measurement and stature than the H1 humanoid. The Unitree H1 is the dimensions of a mean grownup (180 cm), whereas the Unitree G1 is the dimensions of an common eight yr outdated (127cm).
The smaller stature and design of the G1 requires much less materials and might use smaller motors than the H1, but each models weigh about the identical (47 kg). With a smaller robotic, you’d anticipate to have a cheaper invoice of supplies. The G1 has an inventory value of $16,000 (base configuration) whereas the H1 has a base value of $90,000.
The Unitree G1 humanoid is shorter than its predecessor, the Unitree H1 humanoid. | Credit score: Nathan Peterman
“Concerning the design and manufacturing of robots, each element is crucial with a purpose to enhance efficiency and cut back prices,” Unitree mentioned when requested how it’s decreasing the price of the G1 to such a low entry level. “For instance, cut back the variety of wires and cables, cut back the variety of chips, cut back screws, and so on. These could appear primary, however are literally very crucial and essential.
“Aside from the chips, virtually all of the {hardware} of our robots is designed by ourselves. By our previous robotic design and manufacturing expertise, this has higher efficiency and decrease value. Though it could appear opposite to widespread sense, for instance, the motors and reducers are all fashions designed by us.”
As as to whether the H1 would change into out of date with the launch of the G1, Unitree advertising director Duke Huang mentioned, “Completely not. H1 continues to be our strongest humanoid robotic and [we’ll] proceed to take care of and help clients. There’s a large distinction between H1 and G1 when it comes to measurement, value, and efficiency. G1 is extra compact, extra lovely, comparatively small, and straightforward to make use of and keep. After all, attributable to its smaller measurement, its energy efficiency continues to be far behind H1.”
The Unitree G1 has quite a few options and might be optioned from the entry-level unit to the absolutely featured model. | Credit score: Unitree Robotics
In keeping with Unitree, the G1 humanoid might be optioned with articulating, force-controlled, three-fingered arms, which may additional be optioned with tactile suggestions. The robotic battery has an working time of “about 2 hours” and is designed to be shortly swapped out. For sensors, the robotic options 3D LiDAR and Intel RealSense D435 cameras.
The robotic additionally incorporates a quick strolling pace of two,000 mm/s (4.5 MPH). That is quick for any of the competing humanoids or AMRs at present available on the market.
Goal marketplace for Unitree G1 humanoid
With its diminutive stature, this design determination successfully eliminates Unitree G1 from a sensible human labor substitute, because it gained’t have the ability to attain the identical work envelope as a human employee. So the query stays, what market is the Unitree G1 designed for?
With its entry-level value, nimble kinematic design, massive joint working vary, and elective options, the G1 is perhaps a wonderful analysis platform for college labs. The G1 might supply a faster begin for a lab that wishes a platform for creating new embodied AI algorithms. Unitree is a NVIDIA associate, and the G1 EDU model might be optioned with an NVIDIA ORIN controller which delivers the computing energy for classy mannequin improvement. The truth that Unitree additionally launched the product at ICRA, implies that R&D is the preliminary goal software for the G1.
As a consequence of its small measurement, G1 gained’t have the ability to attain a typical workbench, kitchen, or family atmosphere. Nonetheless, basis fashions developed on G1 might possible be utilized to the H1 model.