This time last year, Chinese robotics company Unitree caught our attention with the impressive circus tricks and GPT chat abilities of its $1,600 second-generation robot dog. Now, the company has released an all-terrain upgrade.
While robot quadrupeds are fast, agile, useful, and maybe even cute, getting around on all fours isn’t always the right fit. In some cases, rolling might be easier — as we’ve seen with vehicles like the Swiss-Mile Robot and the W1. Now Unitree has joined the wheeled robo-pack with the Go2-W.
In the video below, the new wheeled robot can be seen getting a bit more aggressive when facing off against its wheelless cousin, outpacing it in a head-to-head sprint, though current specs list top speed at 5.6 mph (2.5 m/s), the same as the base Go2.
Unitree Go2 New Upgrade
Like the Go2, the W variant uses super-wide-angle LiDAR and wide-angle view cameras in its sensor suite and offers Wi-Fi, 4G, and Bluetooth wireless connectivity with its octa-core processing brains. Its 15,000mAh battery reportedly provides up to four hours of endurance per charge, and the bot supports fast-charge top-ups for minimal downtime.
The pads at the end of each jointed leg are replaced by a motorized wheel with 7-inch pneumatic tires that allow the Go2-W to ski on flat ground or adjust angles of attack for small bumps. The wheels can be locked when the bot needs to adopt a walking gait to traverse more difficult terrain, climb stairs, clear obstacles, or perform acrobatic maneuvers such as balancing on its front legs.
Robodog can carry a payload of about 6.6 lb (3 kg), is slightly longer than the Go2 at 27.6 in (70 cm), and tips the scales heavier at about 40 lb (18 kg). Front lighting is included for after-dark duty, and the specifications list a voice function — presumably the same natural language GPT engine found on the non-wheeled model.
Unitree has not announced pricing or availability information at this time.
Product page: Go2-W