On a sunny June morning, the author walked to his office in Washington, DC, with a Unitree Go2 Pro robot dog, drawing attention from strangers who snapped photos and asked questions. The robot, manufactured by the Chinese company Unitree, traveled two miles downhill from Mount Pleasant to near the White House with battery to spare. However, on the return uphill journey in 87°F (30°C) heat, the robot struggled, with battery dropping to 5 percent and internal temperature reaching 84°C (183°F).

It collapsed near the author’s home, rolling onto its back with legs in the air, its face light blinking red and lidar sensor still spinning. While useful for research and entertainment, the robot lacks practical applications compared to wheeled or flying alternatives. Priced at $4,017, it is significantly cheaper than previous models, making it accessible for mass-market use.

Unitree, a leader in quadruped robotics, has expanded into humanoids, launching a $13,500 model in 2023. Despite legal restrictions in the United States, Unitree’s affordability may drive innovation, similar to how Apple, IBM, and Microsoft popularized personal computing.