Unitree Go2

History

Unitree Robotics, based in Hangzhou, China, was founded by Xingxing Wang, who began developing quadruped robots during his graduate studies. His early projects, including XDog and Laikago, explored a low-cost approach to high-performance legged locomotion using brushless motors and custom control systems — a design direction that has since become widely adopted across the field. Since its founding, Unitree has emphasized in-house development of core components, including actuators, sensors, and control systems, and was among the first companies to bring high-performance quadruped robots to the commercial market at scale.

The Unitree Go2 quadruped robot, introduced in 2023 as a successor to the Go1, reflects that progression toward greater capability, accessibility, and support of advanced AI features. Compared to earlier models, the Go2 incorporates onboard lidar for terrain perception, AI-based sensing and decision-making, and improved speed and agility across multiple configurations. It can carry payloads, navigate uneven environments, and operate autonomously for extended periods, while remaining relatively affordable for a legged robot with these capabilities. Its combination of mobility, perception, and onboard intelligence positions it as an example of how quadruped robots are evolving from research platforms into more adaptable, real-world systems.