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🐕 Robot Dog• commercial• medium

Unitree A1

by Unitree Robotics

Released: 2020

💰 USD 10,000 – 12,000 (Standard retail); Educational discounts may apply.

The Unitree A1 is a highly integrated quadruped robot dog designed for advanced mobility, stability, and versatility in dynamic environments. Developed by Unitree Robotics, it excels in athletic performance with capabilities like high-speed running up to 3.3 m/s (11.88 km/h), backflips, rolling, dancing, and stair climbing up to 12 cm steps. Powered by 12 high-performance brushless DC motors with 33.5 Nm torque and 21 rad/s speed, it features 12 degrees of freedom for agile gaits including trot, walk, and gallop. Equipped with an Intel RealSense D435i depth camera for real-time HD video transmission, human following, object tracking, and obstacle avoidance within 0.8 m, it also includes four foot-end force sensors for terrain adaptation and balance recovery. With a 5 kg payload capacity, rich interfaces (HDMI, Ethernet, USB), and support for secondary development via APIs and ROS, the A1 targets research, education, inspection, entertainment, and potential industrial applications. Optional modules like LiDAR enable SLAM, navigation, and autonomous operation, making it a robust platform for developers and a record-holding fast quadruped.

Unitree A1 by Unitree Robotics
3.3 m/s
Max Speed
12
Total DOF
60–150 minutes (Load dependent) min
Runtime
5 kg
Max Payload

Full Specifications

Physical Design

Body Length500 mm (Standing) / 450 mm (Folded) mm
Standing Height400 mm mm
Body Width300 mm
Weight12 kg
Number of Legs4
Total DOF12
DOF Per Leg3
Materialsaluminum, rubber foot pads

Locomotion & Gait

Supported Gaitstrot, walk, gallop, jump, stair-climbing, backflip, roll, dance
Max Speed3.3 m/s
Max Climb Angle25°°
Vertical Leap0.3 m m
Max Step Height12 cm
Terrain Capabilitiesstairs, gravel, grass, uneven terrain, small obstacles

Actuation System

Actuator Typebrushless DC
Transmissiondirect-drive
Compliancerigid

Payload & Manipulation

Max Payload5 kg
Manipulator Armno

Sensing & Perception

LiDARoptional high-precision LiDAR
Depth CamerasIntel RealSense D435i (RGB, IR, depth sensors, 0.3-10m range)
IMUIntegrated 6-axis IMU (Bosch or equivalent high-precision)
GPSno
Obstacle Detectionvision-based, 0.8m range
Tactile Sensors4 foot-end force sensors

Autonomy & Navigation

Autonomous Navyes
SLAMvisual SLAM (optional LiDAR support)
Remote Controlyes, Bluetooth
Teleoperationapp, ROS teleop

Control & Software

CommunicationWiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Ethernet, USB
ROS Supportyes (ROS1/ROS2)
SDK/APIhigh-level and low-level real-time APIs
SimulationGazebo, MuJoCo, Isaac Sim
Control Modesposition, velocity, torque, high-level walking/running, low-level
Onboard ComputeNVIDIA or Raspberry Pi (optional), real-time main control board

Power & Battery

Battery Capacity90.72 Wh (4200 mAh / 21.6 V) Wh
Runtime60–150 minutes (Load dependent) min
Charging Time120 minutes min
Power Sourcebattery

Reliability & Safety

IP RatingIP20 (Indoor/Good weather use only)
Operating Temp0°C to 40°C (Typical operational range)
CertificationsCE, RoHS
Emergency StopPhysical button + Software remote kill switch

Applications

Use Casesresearch, education, inspection, security, entertainment
Industriesenergy, defense, research, education

Commercial

PriceUSD 10,000 – 12,000 (Standard retail); Educational discounts may apply.
Order Lead Time4 – 8 weeks
Warranty1-year standard limited warranty.
Support24/7 technical support with optional on-site training.
CountriesChina

Other Notable Features

3 protection modes, human recognition, real-time HD video transmission, optional voice intercom, ultrasound, 6-array microphone

Review Videos

Unitree A1 Review Video 1
Unitree A1 Review Vi...
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Unitree A1 Review Video 2
Unitree A1 Review Vi...
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the robot dog Unitree A1, and what problem does it solve?▼
Unitree A1 is a quadruped robot developed by Unitree Robotics as a bionic platform for research and application testing. According to the manufacturer, it addresses challenges in mobile robotics by providing a stable, modular base for tasks like inspection and navigation in varied environments.
2. What are the main capabilities and key features of Unitree A1?▼
Unitree A1 includes vision-based object tracking, dynamic obstacle avoidance, human following, and depth sensing via an intelligent camera. It supports real-time HD video transmission, foot-end force sensors for stability, and modes for complex movements like stair climbing, according to Unitree Robotics.
3. Who is Unitree A1 built for, and which industries benefit from it?▼
Unitree A1 targets researchers, developers, and institutions for robotics applications. It benefits fields like education, autonomous navigation testing, and industrial inspection, as an extensible platform per manufacturer descriptions.
4. Is Unitree A1 a commercial product or a research prototype?▼
Unitree A1 is positioned as a commercial product with research-oriented features, including secondary development APIs. Unitree Robotics offers standard and discovery editions for purchase as application platforms.
5. Is Unitree A1 currently available for purchase?▼
Yes, Unitree A1 is available for purchase through distributors and the manufacturer's channels. Variants like the standard and discovery editions are listed for sale as of recent listings.
6. How does Unitree A1 perform in real-world environments and rough terrain?▼
Unitree A1 uses foot force sensors and adaptive algorithms for balance on uneven terrain and after disturbances. According to Unitree Robotics, it handles stairs up to a certain height and maintains stability in dynamic conditions.
7. When was Unitree A1 announced or officially launched?▼
Unitree A1 was demonstrated at CES 2020, where it performed multiple backflips. The manufacturer has offered it as a product since around that period, with ongoing updates.
8. How does Unitree A1 compare to other quadruped robot dogs?▼
Unitree A1 emphasizes affordability and modularity compared to larger models like Boston Dynamics Spot. It shares traits like agile movement with MIT's Mini Cheetah but focuses on compact size and developer access, per available descriptions.
9. Does Unitree A1 support third-party software development or SDKs?▼
Yes, Unitree A1 provides secondary development support with real-time APIs at upper and lower levels. It includes rich interfaces like USB, HDMI, and Ethernet for integration, according to the manufacturer.
10. What is the future roadmap or planned upgrades for Unitree A1?▼
Unitree Robotics has announced optional modules like lidar for mapping and navigation, plus voice control and expanded sensors. The company plans enhancements in autonomy and payload capabilities through iterative updates.