Around this time last year, Chinese robotics company Unitree caught our attention with the impressive circus tricks and GPT chat capabilities of its $1,600 second-generation robot dog. Now the company has launched an upgrade for all terrains.
While robot quadrupeds can be fast, agile, useful, and maybe even cute, pedaling on all fours may not be appropriate for all situations. In some cases, this could be easier – as we’ve already seen with robots like the Swiss-Mile Robot and W1. Now Unitree has joined the wheeled robo-pack with the Go2-W.
The video below shows the new wheeled robot taking a rather ambitious stance when facing off against its wheelless cousin, seemingly faster in a straight sprint – although the current specs list top speed as the same as the base Go2. , at 5.6 mph (2.5 m/s).
Unitree Go2 New upgrade
Like the Go2, the W variant uses super-wide LiDAR and wide-angle cameras in its sensor suite, and offers octa-core processors plus Wi-Fi, 4G and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. Its 15,000mAh battery is said to be good for up to four hours on a single charge, with the robot supporting fast charging for minimal downtime.
The pads at the end of each articulated leg are replaced by a motorized wheel carrying a 7-inch tire, which allows the Go2-W to land skis on the flat or adjust attack angles for minor bumps. The wheels can be locked when the robot needs to learn to walk in order to navigate more challenging terrain, climb stairs, negotiate obstacles or perform acrobatic maneuvers such as balancing on its front legs.
Capable of towing a payload of about 6.6 lb (3 kg), the Robodog is slightly taller than the Go2 at 27.6 inches (70 cm) and tips the scales heavier at about 40 lb (18 kg). Front lighting is included for the after-dark mission, and the specs list a voice feature – which is presumably the same as the GPT natural language engine found in the wheelless model.
Unitree has not disclosed pricing or availability information at this time.
Product page: Go2-W