HANGZHOU, February 26th (AMSP/CGTN) – – Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics has captured global attention after its dancing robots went viral and became a sensation. We had the opportunity to visit its headquarters in Hangzhou, eastern China, to uncover the story behind this innovative company and its groundbreaking creations.
Well, it’s pretty hard to imagine that this regular, low-key four-story building is the incubator of cutting-edge humanoid robots. Unitree was founded in 2016 by its young CEO Wang Xingxing, who was only 26 years old at the time. The company now has around 500 employees, specializing in development and production of robotic dogs and humanoid robots. But it all began with a small team and big dreams.
“In the early days, we were probably just a small team of a dozen or so people. It was only after we participated in the 2021 Spring Festival Gala for the Year of the Ox did we see significant increase in numbers. And more people started to learn about our products,” Unitree Robotics Marketing Manager Chen Xiyun told reporter Wang Tianyu.
The latest data shows that Unitree’s quadruped robots account for nearly 70 percent of the the global market share. But what truly made the company hit its stride was its rapid progress in human-sized robots. (Source: Gaogong Robotics Industry Research Institute, 69.75 percent).
“There are two cameras here, and over here is its lidar. The battery is on its left body side, and inside this part is the integrated computing unit, which includes the control algorithms that operate everything,” Chen Xiyun explained.
So, back to a decade ago—why did Unitree choose Hangzhou to launch its journey? “As a startup, operating costs in top cities like Beijing and Shanghai can be quite high. However, in Hangzhou, the talent pool is strong, and business expenses are relatively lower. Moreover, government officials at all levels—whether provincial, municipal, or district—regularly visit our company to understand our needs and challenges. For instance, the government offers fee reductions on office rent, and many expenses can be reimbursed based on actual invoices, providing us with valuable financial support,” Chen pointed out.
“We always ask ourselves a question: What kind of foundation should we be laying for the development of the high-tech zone in the next five to ten years? Without a doubt, the key is technological innovation. It relies on the investments we make today in nurturing small tech companies, even if the results aren’t immediately visible. Who knows in five years, one of them might grow into a Gazelle Company like Unitree. The future generations will then reap the rewards of the seeds we are planting today,” said Wang Lisheng, Deputy Director of Hangzhou High-tech Industry Development Zone.
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