If your real-life dog isn’t as obedient as you’d like, a Chinese company may have a perfect robotic replacement for you.
Called Go2, the ‘intelligent quadruped robot’ can dance, do a handstand while moving its legs in the air and even run to greet its owner, just like a real dog.
It can also climb stairs, play fetch, play music from a built-in speaker, and even take photos on command, which are sent directly to the owner’s smartphone.
A new promo clip shows the bot showing off its tricks, including jumping between rocks and even making its way around a hedge maze.
Go2 is similar to rival Boston Dynamics’ robot dog Spot, although it has been designed for consumers at a high price of $1,600 (£1,240).
Show Off – The robot dog is seen showing off his impressive capabilities, including handstands, jumping, and dance moves.
Go2 is the brainchild of Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou, China-based company that hails its new product as a “robotics revolution.”
It follows the launch of its predecessor Go1, which launched in 2021 with prices starting from $2,700 (£2,100) even higher.
The name of the robotics line could be a reference to the ancient Chinese board game Go, known for its skill and complexity.
“Unitree Go2, as a quadruped robot, is not only advanced in its configuration and cool appearance, but also offers a range of interactive functions, perfectly simulating the behavior of a real pet dog,” the firm says in a statement.
‘This robot is not only an outstanding example of high-tech achievement, but also an indispensable part of future intelligent life.
“This product is expected to revolutionize the consumer-grade quadruped robot industry, leading to industry transformation.”
Go2, which is already on sale at the firm’s store website, provides real-time maps of the terrain that a user can view on their device.
Go2 is the brainchild of Unitree Robotics, a Hangzhou, China-based company that hails its new product as a “robotics revolution.”
The company’s newest robotic dog even provides real-time maps of the terrain that the owner can view on their device.
What a good boy! In the promotional video, Go2 greets his owner and even extends a ‘paw’, just like a real dog.
READ MORE: Spot the robot dog dances to the beat of BTS
Seven of the robots can be seen performing a choreographed routine to the hit song ‘Permission to Dance’ by K-Pop band BTS.
To navigate the terrain, Go2 uses LIDAR, a remote sensing technology that uses reflected light to create 3D models and maps of nearby objects.
Like a smart speaker, it recognizes human voices and can respond to commands and questions, like ‘can you take a picture of me?’
A camera where the dog’s face would be has an ultra-wide lens to deliver “high clarity” snapshots whenever the command is given.
An accompanying smartphone app allows users to view the photos and even view a feed of the Go2’s surroundings from the dog’s point of view.
The dog is also ’empowered’ by a type of artificial intelligence (AI) known as a large language model, meaning it has been trained with large amounts of text and audio to respond in a human-like manner.
In the promo, he responds to his human in a creepy robotic voice: “Welcome home!” – When he returns from work.
Unitree claims that Go2 can make decisions based on information from a sensor, attached to one of its rear “feet”.
Go2 knows how to navigate a hedge maze thanks to LIDAR, a remote sensing technology that uses reflected light to create 3D models and maps of nearby objects.
‘It moves well in complex terrain’: the Chinese company hails its new product as a ‘revolution in the field of robotics’
As it collects more and more information, it learns the “unique characteristics” of the user, making it their “closest friend,” the company adds.
It is not clear exactly what information about the owner it uses in this way; MailOnline has contacted the company for more information.
It also has an extendable arm on its back with a claw at the end that can pick up objects, such as a toy, and return it to its owner.
With his four legs and his animal agility, Go2 is similar to Spot, the canine robot of the American company Boston Dynamics.
Unitree and Boston Dynamics are two of the biggest rivals in the robotics industry, though the former has focused more on commercially available consumer models at more affordable prices.
Spot was announced by Boston Dynamics in 2016 and underwent various tests before being released commercially on June 17, 2020.
Spot, Boston Dynamics’ most famous robot creation, first went on sale in 2020 and costs a whopping $75,000 (£60,000).
Compared to Unitree’s Go line, Spot has been more business-oriented, to help employees in industries like construction, defense and building maintenance.
It has even been used by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company to inspect launch sites shortly after the rockets have lifted off.
Both companies have been involved in discussions about the potential dangers of robotic devices, as depicted in the 2017 Black Mirror episode ‘Metalhead’.
In October, both companies were among those who signed a letter pledging not to support efforts by some customers to weaponize their products.
