Meet the $4,000 robot dog

TDT | Manama

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A robot dog that can walk, jump, perform handstands and navigate uneven terrain is no longer the preserve of expensive research laboratories. Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics is bringing quadruped robots closer to consumers with its Go2 range.

The spotlight recently fell on the Unitree Go2 Pro, after a reviewer paid $4,017 including tariffs and shipping to own one. While that price is far higher than Unitree’s advertised starting price for the Go2 range, it remains dramatically cheaper than some competing professional robots.

The Go2 uses 4D LiDAR, cameras, wireless connectivity and AI-powered navigation to understand its surroundings and move across different surfaces. Unitree says the robot can reach around 5 metres per second and offers roughly two to four hours of battery endurance, depending on the configuration and use.

But this isn’t yet a house-hold replacement for a real dog. Real-world testing found limitations with battery life, heat management, software and autonomous functions. The robot also lacks arms or hands, limiting what it can actually do around the home.

Its real significance may be the price. Boston Dynamics’ Spot starts around $75,000, while Unitree has pushed quadruped robotics into the thousands-of-dollars range.

The Go2 may not be the perfect robot dog yet — but it could be an important step toward making advanced robots affordable enough for ordinary consumers.