Unitree R1: AI model, chip, sensors and motors

Unitree R1: AI model, chip, sensors and motors | Teardex

Brain layer 3 of 5

Senses

How the robot sees and hears the world.

Stereo camera pairsR1, R1 EDUConfirmed

Cameras in pairs, like two eyes, so the robot can judge distance. The standard R1 and the EDU have a two-lens camera in the head, which can judge distance the way human eyes do.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: R1, R1 EDU
Sources
Checked: 24 Oct 2026

Every robot using Stereo camera pairs

Single cameraR1 AIRConfirmed

One camera, like one eye. It sees well but cannot easily judge distance. The cheaper R1 AIR has a single camera instead of the two-lens camera.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: R1 AIR
Sources
Checked: 24 Oct 2026

Every robot using Single camera

Four-microphone arrayConfirmed

Four microphones that work together to tell where a voice is coming from. Every R1 has four microphones that let it hear voices and work out where sound is coming from.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked: 24 Oct 2026

Every robot using Four-microphone array

Depth cameraR1, R1 EDUConfirmed

A camera that measures how far away each thing it sees is. Unitree's own developer guide says the R1 and R1 EDU have a two-lens depth camera module in the head, with up to 146 degrees of view. It does not name the model or maker.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: R1, R1 EDU
Sources
Checked: 15 Oct 2026

Every robot using Depth camera

Livox MID-360R1 EDU with the add-on lidarIn storeListedUS$749Confirmed

A small laser scanner that sees all the way round. Unitree's mapping and navigation guide says that feature needs an R1 EDU fitted with a Livox Mid-360 lidar, so the lidar is an add-on.

Part priceListedUS$749

Livox's own price for a single unit when it launched in January 2023. Resellers list it at around US$900 today, and Livox quotes lower prices for bulk orders.

Single-unit store price. Robot companies buying in volume usually pay less.

Not the brain

Body

The motors, gears, hands and battery that make it move.

Unitree joint motorsIn-houseOur estimateConfirmed

Unitree's own brushless joint motors, each with two position sensors and a hollow shaft so wires run through the joint. Every R1 joint uses a Unitree-made low-inertia, inner-rotor permanent magnet synchronous motor, a brushless motor with magnets on the spinning part, with a hollow shaft so wires run inside. The R1 Air has 20 joints; the R1 and R1 EDU have 26, adding 2 waist, 2 neck and 2 more arm joints.

Part priceOur estimateUS$120 to US$900 each

Based on: Unitree makes the G1's joint motors itself and does not sell them, so this is not their price. It is the price range of comparable joint actuators a builder can buy, from about US$120 for a 5 Nm wrist-size unit to about US$900 for a 120 Nm leg-size unit. A full G1 uses 23 to 43 of these, so buying comparables for one robot would cost several thousand dollars, far more than Unitree likely pays to make its own.

Price checked 20 Oct 2026

Made by: In-house
Applies to: All versions
Sources
Checked: 20 Oct 2026

Every robot using Unitree joint motors

Unitree joint motorsTorque per jointIn-houseOur estimateConfirmed

Unitree's own brushless joint motors, each with two position sensors and a hollow shaft so wires run through the joint. Unitree's robot model file caps the hip, knee, waist and two shoulder joints at 60 N.m, the ankles at 50 N.m, and the shoulder yaw, elbow, wrist and neck joints at 33 N.m. Unitree does not publish the R1's motor model names.

Part priceOur estimate

Unitree joint motorsEncodersIn-houseOur estimateConfirmed

Unitree's own brushless joint motors, each with two position sensors and a hollow shaft so wires run through the joint. The R1 Air's joints have two encoders each, position sensors on both the motor and the joint output; the R1 and EDU mix dual-encoder and single-encoder joints.

Part priceOur estimate

Crossed roller bearingsOur estimateConfirmed

Joint output bearings with rollers set at right angles, so one bearing carries loads from every direction. Joint outputs sit on crossed roller bearings, which take loads from every direction in one bearing.

Part priceOur estimateUS$130 to US$200

Based on: Robot companies do not sell the crossed roller bearings in their joints, and the one found in a G1 is a Luoyang Baina part with no public price, so this is not its price. It is the price of comparable branded crossed roller bearings a builder can buy one at a time, with a bore of 35 to 40 mm like the Baina CRBT355A. A crossed roller bearing has small rollers set at right angles to each other so one thin ring can carry loads from every direction; Chinese companies selling in bulk to robot companies likely charge much less.

Double-row ball bearingsSecond bearing typeConfirmed

Bearings with two rows of balls side by side, which carry heavier and tilting loads than a single row. Alongside the crossed roller bearings, R1 joints use double-row ball bearings at the output.

Made by: Not named
Applies to: Second bearing type
Sources
Checked: 20 Oct 2026

Every robot using Double-row ball bearings

Planetary gear reducerIn-houseOur estimateConfirmed

A compact gearbox where small gears circle a central gear, trading motor speed for more turning force. Unitree says its joint modules across its humanoids and quadrupeds use planetary reducers it designs and makes itself, compact gearboxes with teeth shaped for walking impacts. The R1 pages do not give the gear ratios.

Part priceOur estimate

R1 smart battery 6000mAhIn storeListedUS$500Confirmed

Unitree's quick-release 199 Wh lithium pack for the R1, sold as a spare on its store. The R1 runs on a quick-release lithium battery rated 33.12 V, 6000mAh and 199 Wh, for about 1 hour of use. Unitree sells spares for US$500; the cell company is not named.

Part priceListedUS$500

Single-unit store price. Robot companies buying in volume usually pay less.

Dex3-1 handEDUEstimate by China Post SecuritiesUS$5,000 to US$5,700 or 36,000 to 41,000 yuan per handConfirmed

Unitree's own three-finger force-controlled hand with 7 joints and optional touch sensors. Hands are optional on the R1 EDU only. Unitree's R1 guide lists its own Dex3-1 three-finger hand, with 7 joints: 3 in the thumb and 2 in each of two fingers.

Part priceEstimate by China Post SecuritiesUS$5,000 to US$5,700 or 36,000 to 41,000 yuan per hand

Unitree does not publish a price for the Dex3-1 on its own. China Post Securities' March 2026 teardown of the G1 estimates it at about 36,000 yuan per hand, or about 41,000 yuan with touch sensors. The dollar figures are at about 7.2 yuan to the US dollar.

Unitree R1

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Body

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