Unitree will sell you a large ‘transformable mecha’ for $650,000

Unitree is one of the best-known names in the humanoid robotics industry, but now it’s pursuing a new science-based technology: giant mech suits. A Chinese robotics company has Image of GD01which it calls “the world’s first production-ready machine,” and it can be yours for as little as $650,000.

What is it for? Well, Unitree doesn’t explain how it works, but the GD01’s introductory video on YouTube gives an idea. Unitree shows rolling down a metal wall and switching between bipedal positions (which, to me, looks like a Power Loader that Ellen Ripley is piloting the plane Aliens) to a movement that allows it to move around on all fours like an unsteady mechanical horse.

“It can change. It’s a civilian car. It weighs ~500kg with you inside,” says Unitree in the video description. “Everyone please make sure to use the robot in a friendly and safe manner.”

Another shot shows Unitree CEO Xingxing Wang climbing into the cockpit of the GD01, which appears to be a racing seat surrounded by a cage. I suspect, however, that the “rider” he sees carrying him is probably a dummy for testing purposes. It is also unclear how the mech is used as some clips show that it can operate without a human inside.

Its ability to “switch” – to change between the two modes of bipedal and quadrapedal – also seems to be limited, since the seat does not adjust itself when the bot is moving. Any passenger in such a situation will find themselves staring at the sky, or, at least, having to get out and manually change the position of the seat.

GD01 seems to be more than just a myth (Wired verified by Unitree) although you’d be forgiven for thinking it is. I certainly did. Unitree is known for its video productions humanoid robots G1 to do war games, backwards, to play tennisand kick the boy in the balls. The implementation of GD01 is so difficult that Unitree is asking customers to “avoid dangerous modifications” or “dangerous use of the robot.”