CyberDog 2

Overview

The Xiaomi Cyberdog 2 is Xiaomi's updated quadruped robot, launched in 2023 as a replacement for the original Cyberdog. It weighs 8.9 kg, reaches 1.6 m/s speed, and features improved locomotion dynamics compared to its predecessor. The Cyberdog 2 is available for purchase at $12,999, targeting developers and robotics enthusiasts. Xiaomi redesigned the joint actuation system and improved onboard sensing compared to the original Cyberdog, resulting in smoother gait transitions and better obstacle recovery.

Xiaomi positions the Cyberdog 2 as a research and developer platform rather than a consumer product, reflecting the technical nature of its software SDK. It is significantly lighter than the original Cyberdog (14 kg), which improves agility and reduces the energy cost of locomotion.

Key Specifications

• Degrees of freedom: 12
• Weight: 8.9 kg
• Top speed: 1.6 m/s
• Payload: limited (sensor mounting only)
• Cameras: improved binocular camera system with wider field of view
• Compute: updated onboard compute module
• Software: Xiaomi open SDK (limited English documentation)

The binocular camera system provides depth perception for obstacle avoidance and basic autonomous navigation.

Use Cases

The Cyberdog 2 is primarily a developer and enthusiast platform. It is used for locomotion demonstrations, computer vision research, human-robot interaction studies, and educational robotics programmes in China. Its improved locomotion over the original makes it more suitable for real-environment navigation, including stairs and uneven surfaces. International developer community support is limited compared to Unitree's Go2 series, which has a larger global user base and more comprehensive English SDK documentation.

Buying Used

The Cyberdog 2 has limited secondhand availability outside China. Import costs to the UK add VAT and potential customs duties to the effective price. When available in the UK, expect pricing around £7,000 to £10,000 used. SDK documentation in English is sparse compared to Unitree products, which increases development time for teams that are not Mandarin-speaking. Factor this into any project timeline estimate.

Alternatives to Consider

• Unitree Go2 Pro: Better international SDK support, comparable or lower price, larger developer community, and 4D lidar.
• Unitree Go2 EDU: Open low-level SDK with payload mounting rail at $2,800, offering more development flexibility at far lower cost.
• Deep Robotics Lynx: Higher payload and speed at comparable pricing, with better English documentation.