Published on: 2026-05-17
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Hanzhou, May 17 /Xinhua/ — The Chinese company Unitree Robotics announced that it received orders immediately after the release of the world’s first ready-for-production pilotable mega-robot, whose debut became popular on the Internet earlier this week.
In science fiction, mecha is depicted as a giant robot or machine, either piloted or endowed with intelligence, and, as a rule, represents a humanoid walking vehicle, often much larger than a human.
On May 12, the debut of the GD01 robot from Unitree took place, which can switch between bipedal and quadrupedal modes of movement. The company stated that the model was developed as a civilian transport vehicle. Its weight with full passenger capacity is about 500 kg, while the robot can maintain stability even during the demolition of a brick wall.
The Mela robot is still undergoing development, and its implementation is aimed at accelerating the use of robotics in various industries to enhance the level of tools, contributing to increased labor productivity, reported Wan Xinsin, founder and CEO of Unitree, in a written response to the Xinhua agency.
“The technology of humanoid robots and the corresponding products are still at the ‘dawn’ of their development. Many challenges await us ahead, the solutions to which require the combined efforts of the entire sector and continuous investment,” said Van Xinxin, noting that Unitree adheres to a long-term vision in this field.
The presentation of the mega-robot sparked discussions about its positioning in the market, technological maturity, and future prospects.
Industry experts believe that such robots have expanded the public’s understanding of robotics. At the same time, they call for disclosing more detailed data on the duration of continuous operation of the hand, the joint synchronization system, energy efficiency, and other operational parameters.
The Secretary General of the Robotics Industry Association of Zhejiang Province, Sun Wei, stated that the development path of piloted mecha-robots can be analogous to the development path of Unitree quadruped robots: first achieve technological breakthrough, release ready-made products, and then work out application areas based on market feedback.
“The ultimate goal of developing human-like robots is to achieve complete similarity to humans and full autonomy. The release of intermediate products that attract market attention and bring commercial profit has a positive significance for the accumulation of technologies, market development, and attracting talents to the industry,” he added.
This futuristic four-legged robot has been added to the list of technological achievements presented this year by the company Unitree, a leader in its field in the area of robotics and based in the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China.
In February, the humanoid robots Unitree attracted widespread attention by performing complex martial arts techniques and agile tricks, such as the “drunken boxer’s” style and a backflip, during the most popular gala concert celebrating the Spring Festival/Chun Jie, the traditional Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar.
In April, the humanoid robot Unitree, based on proportional calculation, broke the human world record in running 1,500 meters as part of the qualifying round of the Beijing half-marathon of humanoid robots.
It is reported that in 2025, the deliveries of humanoid robots of this company exceeded 5,500 units, while its share in the global market of quadrupedal robots remained stable — at the level of 60 to 70 percent.
“2026 is considered an important turning point for the robotics industry, which is transitioning from simple ‘solving many tasks with limited qualification’ to genuinely ‘performing tasks with high productivity and practical application,'” said Luo Xianlan, chief scientist at AgiBot, a manufacturer of intelligent robots in Shandong.
According to the latest industry report, Chinese robotics companies will become the largest manufacturers of humanoid robots in the world by 2025, indicating the rapid growth of this developing production sector in the country.
China adheres to a clear national strategy aimed at becoming a world leader in the field of robotics, and these efforts are supported by a developed industrial ecosystem, rapid development cycles, and opportunities for large-scale implementation.
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