I walked a Unitree quadruped robot two miles to my Washington, DC office near the White House. The robot received significant attention from strangers—people took pictures and asked questions—while biological dogs either kept their distance or growled and barked at it. Children were fascinated, and I had it perform tricks like handstands and leaps for them.
The morning commute went smoothly with battery to spare, but the uphill afternoon return proved problematic. In 87°F heat, the robot's steps became increasingly labored as the path steepened. By the time I entered my neighborhood, battery had dropped to 5% and internal temperature had reached 84°C (183°F). The robot collapsed just within sight of my front door, possibly from power depletion or overheating.
The robot has limited practical applications. Unitree quadrupeds are primarily used for academic research and entertainment, as wheeled robots are faster and more energy-efficient for deliveries, while drones better suited for surveying and inspection work. The lack of arms or hands makes it mostly useless around the house. However, at $4,017, it represents a dramatic price reduction for this type of robot, potentially opening new market possibilities—though Unitree's robots now face legal restrictions in the United States.