The world’s first manned ‘Optimus Prime’ robot has been unveiled.
The transformable “steel behemoth” turns science fiction into a civilian reality.
Like Sigourney Weaver in the sci-fi classic ‘Aliens’, a human pilot can operate the ‘mecha’ – a giant humanoid walking machine.
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Unitree Technology unveiled the GD01 manned transformable mecha earlier today (12 May), marking a significant leap from cinematic exoskeletons to commercially available hardware.
Founded in 2016, the company – one of China’s ‘Six Little Dragons of Hangzhou’ – described the machine as “the world’s first production-ready manned mecha”.
The GD01 is capable of autonomous transformation between walking and wheeled forms to adapt to various terrains.
The machine stands at approximately 1.6 times the height of an average adult when in its upright bipedal state.
It weighs around 500kg when carrying a pilot.
Potential owners can expect to pay a starting price of around £424,785 (CNY 3.9 million) for the entry-level model, as reported by Need To Know.
A Unitree spokesperson urged users to operate the mecha in a “friendly and safe manner,” noting that its design is intended for versatile civilian use rather than military application.
Equipped with advanced LiDAR and depth cameras, the GD01 features a sophisticated balance system to maintain stability while moving or transforming.
In a video demonstration, the company founder and chief executive Wang Xingxing personally climbed aboard and took the controls.
He showed the mecha pushing over a brick wall with one hand before transforming and walking on all fours.
The launch follows Unitree’s successful shipping of over 5,500 smaller G1 units in 2025, cementing their position as a leader in mass-produced humanoid and mecha platforms.
While previous mecha projects like Japan’s Archax have focused on luxury bespoke builds, the GD01 represents the first attempt at a production-ready line for the global market.
Industry experts believe the release of the GD01 could spark a new era of personal transport, bridging the gap between traditional vehicles and robotic avatars.
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