In this interview from Web Summit Lisbon 2025, Bruno Lopes from HPDrones a partner company introduces the G1 humanoid robot built by Unitree Robotics, describing it as a relatively affordable humanoid platform (around US $18,000) and highlighting its open-source SDK for programming and development. The robot is presented as a general-purpose bipedal machine, not restricted to a single task, with a modular design allowing added sensors and hands, and the ability to stand and recover without falling—an important feature given the instability inherent in humanoid locomotion.
https://www.unitree.com/
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The G1 stands out technically because it supports 23 to 43 degrees of freedom (depending on configuration) and uses force-position hybrid control in its hands, giving it more dexterity than many earlier humanoids. It features a LiDAR and depth-camera setup (for example a Livox Mid-360 plus Intel RealSense D435) for perception, enabling it to perceive and map its environment in 3D. Although in the video the tasks shown are mainly walking, balancing, dancing, and looking stable in crowds, the underlying platform suggests readiness for more complex manipulation and locomotion research.
From the interview we learn some key real-world operational details: the robot weighs about 35 kg, has a battery runtime of roughly two hours, and a recharge of around 19 minutes. These match product specifications for the G1. The presenter also noted that while it can be programmed to do household-style tasks (laundry, dishes, cooking) in theory, “right now you have to programme it” — it lacks true autonomous task-level intelligence out of the box.
It’s worth emphasising the context: Unitree has positioned the G1 as a mass-production-capable humanoid for research and development, rather than a finished consumer appliance. For example, a news piece states that although the price was around $16,000 at launch, the robot still “needs teaching” to make breakfast. And recent developments show Unitree launching a lighter, cheaper R1 model for about $5,500 — indicating the G1 is part of a progressive platform strategy.
In summary, the interview at Web Summit reveals the G1 as a milestone in accessible humanoid robotics: a reasonably priced biped with strong mechanics, good sensor-hardware, open SDK, and real-world use in universities and development labs. While it cannot yet interpret natural language commands to independently cook or load laundry, it provides a robust hardware/firmware foundation. For those looking to build up humanoids with proprioception, force-controlled hands and 3D perception, it represents a meaningful step forward.
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