Unitree will sell you a massive ‘transformable mecha’ for $650,000

Unitree is already one of the most recognizable names in the humanoid robot industry, but now it’s pursuing even nicher sci-fi tech: giant mech suits. The Chinese robotics company has debuted the GD01 , which it describes as “the world’s first production-ready manned mecha,” and it can be yours for a paltry $650,000. What is it for? Well, Unitree doesn’t really explain its intended functionality, but the GD01’s introductory video on YouTube provides some ideas. Unitree shows it knocking over a wall of cinderblocks and switching between bipedal position (which, to me, resembles the Power Loader that Ellen Ripley pilots in Aliens ) to a mode that allows it to walk around on four legs like an unsettling mechanical horse. “It can transform. It’s a civilian vehicle. It weighs ~500kg with you inside,” Unitree says in the video description. “Please everyone be sure to use the robot in a friendly and safe manner.” Some shots show Unitree CEO Wang Xingxing clambering into the GD01’s cockpit, what appears to be a racing-style chair surrounded by a roll-cage. I suspect, however, that the “passenger” it’s actually seen carrying around is likely a dummy for testing purposes. It’s also unclear how the mech is actually operated as some clips show that it can perform tasks without having a person inside it. Its ability to “transform” — switching between bipedal and quadrapedal modes — also appears to be limited, as the seating position doesn’t orientate itself when the bot flips over. …