The Chinese manufacturer Unitree announced a new bipedal humanoid robot, the R1, on LinkedIn on July 25, 2025. Weighing around 25 kilograms, it is lighter than its predecessor, the G1 (35 kilograms), and significantly more affordable. The starting price is 39,900 yuan (approximately 5,566 USD), compared to 99,000 yuan for the G1. The R1 uses a Multimodal Large Language Model (MLLM) that combines speech and image processing. Equipped with highly flexible limbs – including six dual-axis leg joints, a movable waist, two arms, and a mobile head – it offers a wide range of motion. Unitree positions the R1 as an open platform for developers and researchers. The goal is to make humanoid robots more accessible to a broader market through lower costs and modular technology. In addition to bipedal robots, the company has also been offering quadrupedal robots for several years, such as the Unitree Go1 and Unitree Go2 (Image: ChatGPT/4o Image).
BY OLIVER BENDEL
