M3GAN protection? Unitree’s $5.9K humanoid robot does kickboxing, but isn’t ready for home use

John Cusack claimed kickboxing was the sport of the future in the 1989 film, “Say Anything….” Turns out he was on to something.

Unitree has unveiled the R1 Intelligent Companion, a $5,900 humanoid robot that demonstrates advanced movement capabilities including kickboxing, cartwheels, and handstands. At under $6,000, the R1 represents a significant pricing breakthrough in the humanoid robotics market, where comparable models typically cost between $16,000 and $90,000.

Key specifications: The R1 stands about four feet tall and weighs roughly 55 pounds, featuring binocular vision, LLM-powered image and voice recognition, and 26 joints.

• The robot includes a 4-microphone array, speakers, an 8-core CPU and GPU, and hands that appear permanently fixed in fists.
• A removable battery provides one hour of activity time.
• Unitree, a Chinese robotics company, has previously partnered with Nvidia for silicon components, though the R1’s specific chipset remains unspecified.

Movement-first approach: The company’s demonstration video showcased the robot’s physical capabilities rather than its AI features, emphasizing that “movement first, tasks as well” with diverse movement serving as the foundation for task completion.

• Demonstrated abilities include running down hills, performing handstands, and executing various martial arts moves.
• The focus on physical prowess aligns with Unitree’s established reputation for producing agile humanoid robots.

Competitive context: The R1’s pricing dramatically undercuts existing humanoid robot offerings in the market.

• Unitree’s own G1 model lists for $16,000, while their H1 costs $90,000.
• Figure AI’s Figure 02 is expected to exceed $30,000.
• This pricing positions the R1 as potentially the most accessible humanoid robot for consumers.

Important caveats: Unitree includes significant warnings about the robot’s current limitations and safety considerations.

• “Currently, the global humanoid robot industry is in the early stages of exploration. Individual users are strongly advised to thoroughly understand the limitations of humanoid robots before making a purchase.”
• The company warns that “the humanoid robot has a complex structure and extremely powerful power” and advises users to “keep a sufficient safe distance.”
• The final product design may differ from current promotional materials.

Reality check: Despite the AI capabilities and home companion positioning, the R1 appears far from ready for actual household deployment.

• The robot’s level of intelligence and autonomy remains unclear beyond its advertised sensors and AI components.
• Most Unitree robots demonstrated at industry events have been either remotely controlled or running pre-scripted movements.
• True home utility would require sophisticated awareness and intelligence to safely interact with human owners.