Unitree R1
Affordable full-size humanoid platform for education, research and prototyping
The Unitree R1 is an ultra-lightweight, full-size humanoid robot from Chinese manufacturer Unitree Robotics. Standing roughly 1.23 m tall and weighing about 27-29 kg, it is sold in Air, Standard (R1) and EDU configurations and positioned as a low-cost development platform for education, R&D and light service tasks. It integrates an onboard multimodal AI model for voice and image interaction.
1.23 m tall, ~27-29 kg ultra-lightweight humanoid
Up to 26-40 degrees of freedom (EDU)
8-core CPU with optional NVIDIA Jetson Orin 40-100 TOPS (EDU)
Integrated large multimodal model for voice and image
Binocular vision, 4-mic array and quick-release battery (~1h runtime)
What it does
The R1 is a bipedal humanoid with 6 DoF per leg and 4 DoF per arm on the Air (giving 20 DoF), rising to 5 DoF per arm plus a 2 DoF waist and 2 DoF head on the Standard (26 DoF) and EDU (26-40 DoF). Driven by low-inertia high-speed PMSM joint motors, it performs dynamic locomotion and demonstrated maneuvers such as running, push-recovery, cartwheels and handstands. An 8-core CPU runs base computing, with an optional NVIDIA Jetson Orin module (40-100 TOPS) on the EDU, plus a 4-microphone array and speaker feeding an integrated large multimodal model for speech and image recognition (binocular vision on the Standard and EDU, monocular on the Air). The EDU variant exposes open joint and sensor interfaces with simulation-platform support for secondary development.
Where it's used
Unitree positions the R1 for education, research labs, developers and academic institutions, with light service and prototyping as secondary use cases. Its open SDK, simulation support and customizable EDU configuration make it suited to robotics curricula, locomotion and AI algorithm development, and humanoid research where a low entry price matters. The standard model is intended for demonstration and interaction, while the EDU edition targets teams building and testing custom behaviors.
Why operators choose it
Entry-level pricing from about USD 4,900 lowers the barrier to humanoid R&D
Three configurations (Air, Standard, EDU) match budget to development needs
Open joint and sensor interfaces on EDU enable full secondary development
Onboard multimodal AI handles voice and image recognition without cloud latency
Ultra-light ~27-29 kg build with quick-release battery simplifies handling and maintenance
Specifications.
- Dimensions
- 1230 H × 357 W × 190 D
- Weight
- ~27 kg (Air) / ~29 kg (R1/EDU)
- Payload
- ~2 kg (arm, posture dependent)
- Total DoF
- 20 (Air) / 26 (R1) / 26–40 (EDU)
- Leg DoF
- 6 (per leg)
- Arm DoF
- 4 (Air) / 5 (R1/EDU)
- Waist / Head DoF
- Waist: 2, Head: 2 (R1/EDU)
- Battery Capacity
- Lithium (quick release)
- Runtime
- ~1 h
- Charging Time
- Supported
- Navigation & Sensors
- Monocular (Air) / Binocular camera (R1/EDU), 4-Mic Array
- Computing & AI
- 8-core CPU; optional NVIDIA Jetson Orin 40–100 TOPS (EDU)
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Additional Specs
- Calf+Thigh: 600 mm
- Forearm+Upper Arm: 420 mm
- Hollow+Internal Routing
- Dual+Single Encoder
- OTA upgrades
Specifications sourced from the manufacturer. View official product page. Variant-specific figures may apply; contact us to confirm the exact configuration.
See the Unitree R1 in action.
Book a private demonstration or request a pilot tailored to your operation.
Book a Demo