The 9 feet tall and 500 kg GD01 is no longer science fiction. Chinese robotics company Unitri Robotics has announced the world’s first human-powered transforming robot that seamlessly switches between two-legged and four-legged movements, and that can break down concrete walls.
A pilot seated in a built-in cockpit controls the machine, which has a starting price of $650,000.
How does China’s GD01 transforming robot work?
The robot’s dual locomotive capability represents an engineering innovation. The video shows the robot breaking a concrete wall and the power required by the robot for each move.
The robot can be used for transportation purposes in civilian industry, making it different from stationary industrial robots and humanoids with fixed leg positions.
Robotics expert Lucas Ziegler observed that even though the West is building sophisticated humanoids, China is doing it in greater numbers more quickly and economically.
Chen Jing, vice president of the Institute of Technology and Strategy Research, said that the GD01 is more than just a prototype; It is a commercial product that is planned to be released into the market.
Huang Jiawei, marketing director of Unitri, said that the GD01 is still a first-generation model with a lot of room for improvement. The starting price of $650,000 may vary depending on performance customization and manufacturing costs.
Social media erupted with excitement, with one user calling it “every boy’s dream” and another quipping the world was “ready for a boxing match with aliens”.
