Unitree Unveils 'GD01': A Giant Pilotable Robot From China With a Starting Price of 18 Million Baht
Chinese robotics firm Unitree unveiled the GD01, a pilotable giant robot standing 2.7 meters tall that can switch between walking and crawling, starting at 18 million baht. The mecha marks a significant step toward making sci-fi robot techn
Innovation never stops! Leading Chinese robotics company Unitree has unveiled the 'GD01,' a human-operated mecha technology that turns Gundam dreams into reality—but at a starting price of 18 million baht.
The global tech world is watching the launch of Unitree's ultra-advanced GD01 mecha robot, which has generated buzz with its 'piloted mecha' design that allows humans to control it directly, as if it stepped straight out of sci-fi films and acclaimed anime like Pacific Rim or Gundam.
Unitree has previously earned recognition as a leader in Chinese humanoid robotics, particularly for robots capable of running, jumping, backflipping, and even engaging in combat-style movements. However, the GD01 launch represents a significant milestone that many believe marks humanity's entry into the true 'mecha era.'
Interest surged following a video clip of Wang Xingxing, Unitree's CEO, that rapidly spread on Chinese social media. The clip shows him climbing into the GD01's control cabin before commanding the mecha to move and crash through a wall, astonishing viewers worldwide.
The GD01 stands approximately 2.7 meters tall and weighs around 500 kilograms including the pilot. Its standout feature is the ability to seamlessly switch between bipedal and quadrupedal locomotion with a single button press, making it resemble a combat mecha from anime or sci-fi games more than a conventional robot.
While Unitree hasn't officially revealed all the GD01's capabilities, many regard it as the 'world's most advanced mecha' at present, not only because it actually moves but also because it's designed at a level ready for commercial production.
However, this cutting-edge technology comes with a substantial price tag. The GD01 starts at 3.9 million yuan, roughly equivalent to 18 million baht, leading many to view it as an expensive toy exclusively for mecha enthusiasts and high-tech aficionados.
Unitree states it is accelerating manufacturing efficiency improvements and attempting to reduce costs to make this mecha accessible to more people in the future—potentially representing the first step toward a new robotics industry previously seen only in film. Although no official release date has been announced, the GD01 has already generated worldwide discussion. Many are excited about the prospect of piloting a 'future combat robot' themselves, while others question its practical applications, including mobility, boarding and exiting procedures, and battery life limitations.
