Unitree showcased the ‘first’ display of a factory run entirely by autonomous robots at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026. The robot can be ridden by humans and switch between two-legged and four-legged movement modes. The transformer-style robot can be deployed for mobility in its bipedal form, while its quadruped mode is high-risk for tasks in more difficult terrain such as stairs and slopes. 

The Unitree GD01 is the world’s first manned deformable mecha capable of switching between humanoid and quadruped forms. The tall red-colored robot is approximately 3 meters tall and weighs around 500 kg. It costs about $57,000 (3.9 million Chinese yuan).

Unitree has recently received regulatory approval for its RMB 4.2 billion ($619.4 million) initial public offering (IPO). Unitree shipped 5,500+ humanoid robots last year. Analysts forecast the best-case scenario for it is making its robots affordable enough to use and test software on, making it the default choice for the entire industry.