A brand-new robot from Chinese bipedal robot maker, Unitree G1 humanoid robot is making waves with an unbelievable price of US$16,000 (RM74,984). — AFP Relaxnews
While the technological race is on in the field of humanoid robots, few models are already available to buy. However, the Chinese bipedal robot manufacturer, Unitree, is causing a stir with a brand-new robot priced at an unbeatable US$16,000 (RM74,984).
The Unitree G1 is an agile, dexterous humanoid robot – a more compact and streamlined version of the flagship H1 model. It measures 1 meter and 27 centimeters, compared with 1 meter, 80 centimeters for its predecessor. In a video posted by Unitree, it can be seen walking, as well as withstanding shocks and blows.
It appears to be extremely flexible, and can even stand up from the floor on its own. The idea is for the robot to learn and replicate a number of actions over time. It can already handle a baton or a soldering iron, open a bottle or crack nuts.
Its weak point is undoubtedly its battery life, which is just two hours, in theory. But it looks like that's the price you have to pay to be able to buy a robot for just US$16,000 (RM74,984), excluding tax and shipping.
The race is on in the world of humanoid robots, particularly between Chinese and American manufacturers, with projects showing varying degrees of success and advancement. Some models are now even powered by artificial intelligence.
With its affordable price and advanced capabilities, the G1 has the potential to make this technology a little more accessible. By way of comparison, the Unitree H1 starts at US$90,000 (RM421,785) in its basic version, with the price tag quickly rising to US$150,000 (RM702,975) for an enhanced model.
While the Chinese manufacturer is one of the very first to start selling its bipedal robots, it is far from the only one making them. China's Xiaomi, for example, is working on building a robot capable of interacting with humans, notably by recognising the emotions of nearby individuals. But it's above all in the United States that projects are multiplying.
Boston Dynamics recently presented a completely new version of its famous Atlas humanoid robot, in a fully electric and autonomous form that is much more agile than before. It is due to be tested in a car factory in the near future. The aim is to be able to market it on a large scale in a few years' time.
Other projects include Tesla's Optimus robot and Sanctuary AI. Figure, meanwhile, has teamed up with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its humanoid robot, enabling it to respond to (almost) any question, in addition to easily manipulating objects and expressing emotions. Combined with artificial intelligence, all these robots could one day interact automatically with humans. – AFP Relaxnews
