Advancements in Chinese humanoid robotics simply mindblowing

When I recently visited Unitree Robotics, a cutting-edge Chinese humanoid robot company in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, I decided to test their creation in a unique way.

I volunteered for an experiment — having both the robot and myself standing side by side and pushed over, in order to see who would recover their balance more quickly.

To make things even more challenging, I requested to be blindfolded, ensuring I couldn't anticipate the push. The result blew my mind.

While I stumbled several steps, struggling to regain my balance, the humanoid robot barely moved, staying almost in place.

The level of advancement in Chinese humanoid robotics has been far beyond what I anticipated.

Earlier this month, Unitree offered an update on their engineering, showcasing their humanoid robots sauntering down a boardwalk, making their way across uneven terrain and catching up with a human jogger.

The company even claimed that the latest robot was "the most agile" humanoid robot so far.

Robots are often referred to as the "crown jewel of manufacturing", with humanoid robots considered the pinnacle of achievement in the field. Achieving this level of sophistication means that humanoid robots are becoming more humanlike — and, in some ways, even surpassing human abilities.

This evolution holds significant implications, as humanoid robots are expected to play increasingly critical roles in areas like disaster rescue, industrial inspections and high-risk environments that are too dangerous or inaccessible for humans.

More importantly, Chinese robotics makers are mass-producing them and make them cheap for common consumers.

Unitree G1, priced at 99,000 yuan ($13,600), was released in May. Described as a "humanoid intelligent entity and AI avatar", the G1 is 127 centimeters tall and weighs around 35 kilograms.

What sets the Unitree G1 apart is its price point. In comparison, Tesla's Optimus is projected to have a price of $25,000, making Unitree's offering significantly more cost-effective. This pricing strategy could accelerate the adoption of humanoid robots across various industries in China.

According to the company, the humanoid robot, priced at 99,000 yuan, which is considered very reasonable, can simulate human hand movements with remarkable precision, making it one of the most affordable options in the market.

In addition to the humanoid robots, Unitree also offers the Go2 robotic dog, starting at 9,997 yuan, along with various accessories. The Go2 series has been well-received for its versatility and affordability, making it a popular choice among tech enthusiasts.

Rick Xiong, general manager of the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robotics Innovation Center, said: "These combined efforts will shape the future in our favor. Chinese robot companies have the right timing, the right place and the right people to accelerate the humanoid robot push."

Xiong said that leading Western countries have witnessed deep-pocketed industry giants dominating the robot landscape, whereas China is characterized by a proliferation of small to medium-sized enterprises striving to navigate the competitive terrain of humanoid robots.

He also said that the rise of artificial intelligence large language models, exemplified by technologies like ChatGPT, has been a game-changer in the robotics industry.