Unitree unveils a version of the G1 with wheels

Unitree Robotics, known for its agile humanoid robots, has unveiled a new variant of the G1 that replaces its feet with wheeled bases. This modification significantly enhances the robot's mobility, allowing it to achieve speeds up to 2x faster than the standard bipedal version while maintaining superior balance. The wheeled G1 can navigate flat, structured environments like warehouses, factories, and urban sidewalks with greater efficiency, reducing the risk of falls and improving operational uptime. The design leverages Unitree's existing locomotion control algorithms, adapted for wheeled movement to ensure smooth acceleration, braking, and turning.

The wheeled G1 retains its full upper-body dexterity, including 23 degrees of freedom for manipulation tasks, making it ideal for applications requiring both mobility and precision. Potential use cases include autonomous logistics, where it can transport goods across warehouse floors; industrial inspection, where it can roll through corridors and scan equipment; and last-mile delivery, where it can navigate sidewalks and curbs. Unitree has not yet announced pricing or availability, but the upgrade positions the G1 as a versatile alternative to Boston Dynamics' Spot and other wheeled robots. This move reflects a broader industry trend toward hybrid locomotion systems that combine the stability of wheels with the versatility of humanoid form factors.