Unitree Robotics Unveils World’s First Humanoid App Store

Unitree Robotics has introduced a developer platform named the Unitree Robotics Developer Platform, which they have described as the "world’s first humanoid robot app store". This centralised program is designed to integrate embodied intelligence into everyday routines by allowing users to access and control the robots through their smartphones. The platform provides specific functionalities for humanoids, including datasets and remote control programs.

Unitree G1

Through videos shared on platforms such as YouTube, X, and RedNote, Unitree has encouraged both users and developers to "develop and share together" within this system. Key features of the platform include the ability to remotely control robots via a phone camera and the selection of preprogrammed demonstrations. These demonstrations include complex actions such as the "Bruce Lee" martial arts routine, "The Twist" dance move, and various ballet sequences. The platform also fosters a community element, enabling users to upload, share, and download training datasets and action sequences for use with Unitree’s robots.

Unitree is recognised as one of Hangzhou’s "Six Little Dragons," firms credited with influencing China's technology landscape, and has historically specialised in manufacturing quadruped and humanoid robotics. The company is often referred to as China’s unofficial representative for robotics capabilities. Wang Xingxing, Unitree’s founder and chief technology officer, was recently appointed to a national robotics committee by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Wang and AgiBot co-founder Peng Zhihui are known in the field as China’s "twin stars" in robotics.

The company's approach to integrating humanoid robots into daily life involves a multi-step strategy. The initial stage utilises structured demonstrations, such as martial arts and ballet sequences. This will be followed by a stage where the robots perform actions generated in real time based on specific instructions. Wang stated that the final, ambitious stage involves humanoid robots responding to voice commands to perform general tasks, such as fetching water or tidying a table. Wang suggested this capability could potentially be realised as soon as next year. Unitree has previously showcased its humanoid robots performing physical feats, such as the H2 model performing kickboxing moves and ballet pirouettes.