robots

Unitree is one of the Chinese technological jewels. He wants to do with robots the same thing Xiaomi did with mobiles

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In advanced robotics are Boston Dynamics or Tesla who monopolizes the headlines, but a Chinese company is following an alternative path to end up being The next big one of the robotic sector: Unitree. Founded in 2016 in Hangzhou, on the East China coast, it follows a strategy that reminds a lot of that of Xiaomi in its beginnings: Try to offer the best possible technology at demolition prices. Thus Xiaomi conquered countries like Spain and thus tries to make a hole in world robotics. Of course, the prices of this type of robots have nothing to do with those of a Redmi. Value proposal The price difference is large. One of Boston Dynamics’s most famous robots, Spot, costs about $ 75,000. The unitree Go2, relatively similar, It is sold for 1,600 in its cheapest mode. This strategy has allowed him to dominate the square robot market, where he already has a 40% market share according to the Gaogong Institute. The most important thing is not so much the price and what it implies: A paradigm shift in the way of selling advanced robotics. Other manufacturers focus their robots as premium products for companies or for armies. Unitree understands them as massive technology. Or almost. After quadruped robots, the big challenge is in the bipeds. The humanoids. And there Unitree has his G1 modelwhich sells for $ 16,000. A lot of money, but quite less than what is expected that costs the Tesla optimus. Image: Unitree. Its specifications: Height of 1.32 meters (approximately a nine -year -old child). Weight of 35 kilos. Race speed of 2 meters per second (7.2 kilometers per hour, equivalent to a very slow trot). Lidar 3D. Intel Realsense depth chamber (only this component is already worth $ 1,300 in the free market). Advanced voice control. Beyond specifications, G1 is an example of the Pragmatic Approach of Unitree: it does not seek spectacular demos of its humanoid robotics, but the ability to produce them in mass. It is no accident that Unitree has left Hanghzou. From there they have come out Many other technological ones And it is in fact the headquarters of Alibaba. It is the place where Capital, talent and manufacturing converge. Hangzhou is one of the vertices of what we could call the Chinese technological trianglenext to Shenzhen and Shanghai. And within Hanghzou, Unitree is one of the calls “Six small dragons“: The six startups that are emerging in AI and Robotics. Of course, another of the Dragoncitos is Deepseek. To understand Unitree’s strategic importance: it was One of the 18 companies chosen by Xi Jinping For the technological symposium of a few days ago with Deepseek, Huawei, Byd, Tencent, Xiaomi, Catl … a sign of power and faith. The founder’s enigma The founder of Unitree is Wang Xingxingsomeone who breaks several stereotypes: He studied at the University of Science and Technology of Zhejiang, a respectable but not first level institution. Many founders of their generation did study in elite centers or abroad. He was never a brilliant student … Not much less. Xingxing itself admitted that He could not enter the University of Zhejiang (more prestigious) for not having enough English level. After spending a couple of months in DJIthe giant of the droneshe was encouraged to launch his own company. And he said In an interviewthe beginnings were hard: “During the first three years there were times when we couldn’t even pay salaries.” Again, a modest beginning that contrasts with the usual pattern of high -profile Chinese startups, which usually start with large rounds of financing and management equipment from large technological ones. This is the case of Xpeng, Child either Bytedance. Wang, on the other hand, started practically from scratch, sleeping for a month on a friend’s couch. His vision was also atypically modest for a Chinese technological founder. Instead of distilling excessive ambition with a certain grandiloquence, he set a simple objective: to get anyone to have a robot at home. At the moment he is not going wrong with that idea. The challenges to grow Despite its good tour to this day, it remains a lot to solve for the future. Starting with autonomy. Their humanoid robots have for about two hours of useinsufficient for prolonged use. And the guarantee is Only eight monthssomething that can deter more than one buyer from products several thousand dollars. How to offer adequate technical service when something goes to a client from anywhere in the world is another unknown. And of course, it remains to be seen if these robots can do real domestic tasks, completely, without requiring human help or auction, in such different environments as the home of each consumer. Very different to do so in a demo in a controlled environment. Million’s question is If Unitree’s business model will be sustainable in the long term. Prices remain low thanks to vertical integration and their physical closeness with the Chinese supply chain, but advanced robotics in 2025 is an insatiable investment plaintiff in R&D. And do it with tight margins complicates the equation. Future unknowns on the margin, Unitree represents well to A new generation of Chinese technology: Those that compete around the world with tight prices and a very pragmatic approach, more focused on assuming tedious tasks than in making us crack our eyebrows with magic tricks. Now, its success – or its failure – can end up determining whether advanced robotics ends up becoming a technology for the masses … or if you stay in a premium niche product. At the moment, Unitree has shown that there is a certain market for advanced robotics when it is offered at mundane prices. Now you will have to show that you can keep the accelerator pedal tread. Outstanding image | UNITREE, Xataka In Xataka | Goal points beyond generative AI: its new great bet is advanced humanoid robots, according to Bloomberg

The next generative AI revolution will not reason better, but integrate into physical robots. And will change robotics forever

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In the technological world we are fascinated with chatbots who write essays and take their time reasoning. Grok 3 goes, Claude 3.7 It comes, meanwhile, something less visible but deeper is happening: The beginning of the merger between conversational and mechanical bodies. For the first time, robots not only execute preprogrammed instructions. Now also, in their own way, they understand. Historically, robotics and AI have followed separate paths. Parallel, but separate. Industrial robots were as accurate as stupid. AI systems are intelligent, but incorporeal. Let’s think about robotic arms that have existed on assembly lines for decades. Millimetrically exact, but absolutely lost If a single component appeared in a position slightly different from that expected. The new generation of robots connected to LLMS You can now interpret ambiguous instructions, such as “bring me something for thirst”, and solve the problem through reasoning (word of the year), evaluating which drinks are available, if the user showed preference for some and even if there is ice in the freezer. We no longer program specific movements, but rather general objectives. Figure robots are good examples. So good that even They work autonomously at a BMW factory. According to The company has just publishedthey can even receive generic verbal instructions, such as collecting pieces, and without the need for previous specific programming are able to visually analyze the environment and detect them. They can even pause, reassess the situation and correct the error if someone modifies the pieces. This contextual adaptation capacity was unthinkable a couple of years ago. The really groundbreaking of this impaired in robots is that You can learn very differently. The LLMS trained with text lack the physical understanding of the world. Traditional robots lack contextual intuition. By merging them an intelligence that includes both semantics and physics. A robot equipped with LLMS is not only able to understand the instruction “opens that box without damaging its content”, but can improvise before boxes never seen, evaluating materials, closures and fragilities. The revolution, unfortunately, will not be spectacular as in The novelty-fictionbut it will arrive in the form of robotic arms in factories that can be reconfigured with a verbal order. Or warehouse robots that will understand contextual priorities. Or medical assistants capable of interpreting non -verbalized needs of their patients. Boston Dynamics, the Non-Va-Más de la Robotica during this last decade thanks to your robots jumping and doing Parkourshe is no longer as interested in acrobatics as in integrating understanding systems that allow her machines Understand complex instructions in construction and industry environments. You just have to see Your website. And on the horizon look The Tesla optimus or the Cyberone de Xiaomi. Or unitree like One of the great Chinese technological bets. The big change will come When these systems stop failing before the unforeseen and begin to apply general principles of physical and contextual reasoning. We are not seeing the birth of artificial consciousness, but the understanding of the physical world and the world of meaning in a single integrated system. What this powerful convergence does is its silent nature. He catches us arguing On whether Grok 3 deserves a better product or about itself Chatgpt 4.5 It will be sufficient during the remaining of the year, but Robots are beginning to understand the world like us. Not only by calculating a trajectory, but understanding intentions, contexts and meanings. That is much more transformative and valuable than Any ten -page trial generated in seven minutes. In Xataka | Deep Research is not just a new AI function. It is the beginning of the end of intellectual work as we know it Outstanding image | Figure, Ryunosuke Kikuno in Unspash

His new great bet are advanced humanoid robots, according to Bloomberg

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After getting rid of 5% of its workforce at the beginning of the yearMeta has created a team destined to develop its next great ambition: humanoid robots driven by artificial intelligence (AI). The news comes from Bloombergwhich states that the company led by Mark Zuckerberg will make a “significant investment” this new project. The sources point out that androids will be able to interact with users and will help them perform daily tasks. Goal aspires that its technology helps overcome current barriers where robots have certain limitations to wear a glass of water without scattering, placing them dishes on a shelf to clean them or bend clothes. A team within reality labs Instead of creating a new division, the giant of social networks has decided Metaversoglasses Quest 2, Quest 3 and Quest Proas well as smart glasses Ray-Ban Meta. The initiative will be led by Marc Whittenwho until recently served as CEO of the Cruise Autonomous Vehicle Company owned by General Motors. He previously led the Amazon entertainment devices division and worked for 17 years in Microsoft, where he was an engineer of the original Xbox team. According to the aforementioned medium, Meta seeks to focus on the underlying sensors and software of robberies, including an artificial intelligence system. It is an attempt to use part of the technology developed for its virtual and extended reality products. The glasses, for example, have multiple sensors to, for example, eye tracking. Neo Beta, a 1x robot The use of technologies that were born in other products is not new in the technology industry. Optimus de Tesla, for example, is based on a variety of advances derived from the autonomous driving technology of the firm’s cars. It is not only on software, but also of processing chips, batteries and sensors. More than manufacturing humanoid robots, goal seeks to consolidate as the reference technological ecosystem in this area, providing key components. The production and marketing will remain in the hands of other companies, and for this he already has conversations with China Unitree Robotics and the American figures AI. We will have to wait to know how this new initiative will evolve, but we can advance that goal will not be alone. There are currently many other companies that are betting on humanoid robots. In addition to those mentioned are 1x, Fourier Intelligence, Boston Dynamicsamong others. Images | Xataka with Grok | 1x In Xataka | Apple believes to have an ace in the sleeve to shine in a market as saturated as that of robots: “emotional robotics”

drones and robots against Russian troops

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In the war and from the military point of view, the Definition of an offensive It is “that way of acting from an army that attacks the enemy.” The offensive in a contest has as its own characteristics the movement, action and initiative, and the adversary is sought where it is to destroy it. All these guidelines have been followed in one way or another in the different wars and conflicts with a common denominator: humans. In The Ukraine War is no longer. The first exclusive combined assault. It happened at the end of 2024, when the 13th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (“Khartiia”) carried out The first combined attack in history using only drones surprising the Russian forces in the Járkiv region, near Lyptsi. This innovative operation used a variety of air and terrestrial drones, from FPV units to armed robots and recognition drones operating in different functions: attack, recognition and support, and resulting The first mechanized assault without human intervention in direct combat. The operation was directed by the Brigade land robotics squad, known as “Deus Ex Machina”led by the soldier with badge “Happy”, a 22 -year -old with a formation in military engineering. His unit, specialized in the use and innovation of terrestrial drones, assumed the challenge of organizing a completely automated assault in just one week. To do this, Routes, control points and specific communication channels were established. The role of drones. The objective of the attack was to prepare the terrain for future offensive, disorganize Russian troops, destroy key objectives and test coordination between the command center and drone units. According to the Brigade “Shuhai” officer, The use of robotic platforms to attack the enemy and explore its positions is already a need on the modern battlefield. Ukraine has stressed that the operation marks a milestone in the future of wars. One of the Ukrainian terrestrial robots used, in tests. The plan. The preparation was meticulous due to the lack of precedents in this type of offensive. Three physical and virtual simulations were performed to ensure precision in executionand although the exact number of deployed drones was not revealed, the participation of several dozens was confirmed, including aerial and terrestrial FPV drones, terrestrial drones with machine gun torrettas, heavy four -seater drones of bombing and aerial drones of recognition and surveillance. Two days before the attack, The drones were transferred to their initial positions. Less than 100 soldiers participated in the offensive in operators, logistics and planning. Approximately 30 drones of different types were deployed, each managed by a human pilot instead of using swarm technology. Enemy execution and reaction. As we said, the offensive took place in a Russian fortified position near a dense forest. The simultaneous arrival of terrestrial and aerial drones took the Russian soldiers by surprisewho, accustomed to air drones attacks, did not expect the combination with armed terrestrial units. Ukrainian intelligence has explained that through the radio interceptions they found chaos in the Russian lines, which were confronted with an invisible enemy without human soldiers in sight. One of the main challenges was the land. They say that the thick mud characteristic of Ukraine hindered the movement of terrestrial drones, and although some were stuck, none was destroyed by enemy fire. In addition, the offensive was carried out with a huge level of precision: No drone losses were reported due to Russian electronic warfarea Common problem in this type of operations. Lessons learned. The Ukrainian infantry took and assured the position, consolidating an advance in the Járkiv front. Despite the success, the operation presented several challenges. How do we count, Several terrestrial drones were stuck in the fieldwhich slowed some aspects of progress. Some video records They showed that the Russians tried to repel the attack with mortars, drones with bombs and FPV units, although without achieving a significant destruction of Ukrainian devices. In this regard, one of the main learning was The need to improve coordination between terrestrial and aerial drones, as well as the management of communications in combat. That said, and despite the obstacles, the operation reaffirmed that robotic systems have enormous potential in modern war. A different war. We have told it in the past. The development of military robots is booming In various parts of the world. Companies such as Milrem Robotics (Estonia), Roboteam (United States-Israel) or Unmanned System Technologies (United Kingdom) have advanced in the production of terrestrial systems, although no one has yet managed to completely replace human soldiers. Reliability, coordination and adaptability remain challenges in real combat. In that sense, the experience of the Khartiia brigade is unique, since they have managed to execute a robotic assault on real war conditions, providing valuable lessons for the industry and the armies of the world. “We are in the era of muskets in regard to war with drones,” The sergeant chief of the Ukrainian non -manned land vehicle unit reflectedcomparing the current technological advance with the first firearms. The war future: autonomous. As technology progresses, the development of completely autonomous robots is approaching. Even so, priority remains to improve coordination, overcome logistics difficulties such as land and improve communication systems. “Russians should expect more operations like this”, “Shuhai” warnedunderlining that the war with drones will continue to evolve. What began as an experimental mission with low expectations became a historical operation, demonstrating the ability of drones to coordinate a combined attack without direct intervention of human soldiers in the front. Image | Alan Wilson, Michael Kötter In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has entered its deranged phase: there are drones throwing drones to attack other drones In Xataka | Ukraine does not have much to win in a peace agreement with Russia. Except if you bring out your rare earth reserves

A battery to feed robots from the heat of the human body

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Of all the submundos on the Internet, my favorite is that of youtubers who dedicate months to an engineering project of doubtful profitability for the simple fact of trying. The Matrix. There is a whole generation of adults that in 1999 saw ‘Matrix’ in the cinema. The Matrix, the concept of engineering from which the science fiction film of the Wachowski sisters starts, is a machine that uses humans as batteries to extract from their body the energy that feeds the robots. With the AI ​​advancing at runaway, it does not seem like a project that we want to materialize precisely now. But would it work? To verify it, someone is needed with the motivation and the determination of carrying out a project or too useful, or too profitable. Exact: You need a youtuber. Basically Homeless’s human battery. This is the name of the Nicka Zetta channel, the youtuber and inventor that concerns us. Inspired by matrix, Zetta designed a special suit that takes advantage of the heat generated by the human body to produce electricity. The premise is simple: the side of the suit that is in contact with the skin is heated when the person is active, because his body generates heat, while the other side, exposed to the cold air of the environment, remains fresh. That temperature difference can be used to produce electricity. How it works. To convert the temperature difference into electricity, it is enough to use a thermoelectric generator, a device with two conductive materials, one on the hot side and one on the cold side, which generate a potential difference (that is, an electrical voltage) to take advantage of The Seebeck effect: electrons move from the hot to cold, creating a current flow (that is, electricity). The problem is that the human body does not generate too much heat, nor does it at a specific point, so many thermoelectric generators were needed to achieve a non -despicable amount of energy. The limitations. During the suit tests, Nick managed to generate electricity peaks that soon down because the temperature difference with the outer side of the suit was matched. To avoid this problem, he devised a way of producing “heat pulses”: great temperature differences in short periods that allowed him to obtain more electricity. The body is heated when exercising, but also (not trying at home) when drinking alcohol or ingesting spicy meals with a lot of capsaicin. If at the same time the outer air is cold, the temperature difference is important. Feeding a robot with the suit. Although the invention failed to generate enough energy to load a mobile, it did produce electricity in small quantities that were enough to move a small robot on a table. Maybe it is not the matrix that science fiction fans imagined, but remember that the film’s robots could not obtain electricity from the sun with photovoltaic cells, which would be much more efficient, because humans had darkened the sky in an attempt to end the energy of the robots. Images | Basically Homeless, Warner Bros.

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