According to Chinese media IT Home, Chinese robotics development company Unitree Robotics exhibited the mass-produced transforming robot "GD01" that people can ride at the 5th World Digital Trade Expo held in Hangzhou from the 23rd to the 27th.

According to previous reports, Unitree released a demo video of GD01 in May. Its height when standing upright on two legs is more than twice that of an average adult male, and its weight with a person aboard is approximately 500 kilograms. It can be used as a private means of transportation. The price is said to start from 3.9 million yuan (approximately 90 million yen).

In the demo video, scenes of it walking on two legs unmanned, a scene of founder and CEO Wang Xingxing (Wang Xingxing) getting into its expanded lattice-shaped torso, a scene of it moving its arms to knock down a block wall unmanned, and a scene of it transforming from two legs to four by placing its arms on the ground and walking unmanned were showcased.

According to IT Home, Mr. Wang gave a keynote speech at the "Digital Trade and Artificial Intelligence (AI)" dialogue forum of the Digital Trade Expo about the reasons that led to the development of GD01 and stated, "As the foundational technologies of AI and robotics mature, the R&D and practical application of large robots and small robots are no longer contradictory. Large robots are an unstoppable trend in this industry. Even if we don't undertake it, other companies will introduce similar products within the next few years."

He then said, "We position GD01 as the off-road vehicle of the robot world," and regarding the machine, he stated, "It is not for indoor use in urban areas. It is equipped with high off-road capability for complex outdoor terrain and is intended for mission execution in outdoor environments."

Mr. Wang and GD01 graced the cover of Time magazine in July. (Translated and edited by Yanagawa)