Unitree R1: A Fully Customizable Ultra-Lightweight Humanoid Robot
Unitree has unveiled the R1, an ultra‑lightweight humanoid robot weighing about 25 kg and priced at approximately $5,900. The R1 combines high degrees of freedom with advanced custom actuators, promising a blend of agility and strength for research, education and entertainment applications.
One of the headline features of the R1 is its user‑customisable finish. Unitree emphasises that the robot’s shell panels can be ordered in various colours and styles, allowing customers to personalise the look. This flexibility is underpinned by a mechanical design that uses custom‑developed electric actuators, giving the joints high torque and smooth response. Thanks to these actuators, the R1 can perform dynamic manoeuvres such as handstands and flips, demonstrating impressive balance and power.
R1’s perception and computing hardware are equally advanced. It features an ultra‑wide‑angle binocular camera for 3D vision, a four‑microphone array for spatial audio processing and stereo speakers to interact with its environment. Onboard processing is provided by an 8‑core CPU with an optional Jetson Orin module for GPU‑accelerated AI tasks. Connectivity includes Wi‑Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, remote control via a dedicated app and over‑the‑air software updates. A smart lithium‑ion battery offers around an hour of runtime and can be swapped quickly using a quick‑release mechanism.
With 26 degrees of freedom – six joints per leg, five per arm and two across the waist and head – the R1 delivers highly articulated motion for tasks and demonstrations. Unitree offers a standard model with an eight‑month warranty and an education version that supports secondary development and extends the warranty to 12 months. The company notes that humanoid robots remain complex and powerful machines and the R1 is intended for civilian research and development rather than industrial use. Nevertheless, its combination of affordability, modularity and customization makes Unitree’s new biped an accessible platform for students, researchers and tech enthusiasts exploring the emerging era of humanoid robotics.
