Go2 Air

Overview

The Unitree Go2 Air is Unitree Robotics' entry-level quadruped robot, priced at $1,100 and aimed at enthusiasts, students, and developers beginning with legged robotics. Unitree Robotics is a Hangzhou-based company that has become the dominant low-cost quadruped manufacturer globally, building a product line from consumer go-kart-sized platforms to industrial inspection quadrupeds. The Go2 Air is the most affordable entry point in the current Go2 family, providing a functional legged robot with LiDAR and cameras at a consumer price point.

The Go2 Air includes 4D LiDAR L2, an HD wide-angle camera, and 12 degrees of freedom across four legs. It carries up to 7 kg of nominal payload (maximum 10 kg) and reaches approximately 2.5 m/s top speed. For buyers new to quadruped robotics, the Go2 Air provides a genuine four-legged robot capable of basic autonomous navigation without the cost of research-grade platforms.

Key Specifications

• Degrees of freedom: 12
• Nominal payload: 7 kg (maximum 10 kg)
• Top speed: 2.5 m/s
• Standing dimensions: 70 x 31 x 40 cm
• Weight: 15 kg (with battery)
• Battery runtime: approximately 1 to 2 hours (8,000 mAh standard battery)
• LiDAR: 4D LiDAR L2, 360 x 96 degree field of view
• Camera: HD wide-angle camera
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2

The Go2 Air runs on Unitree's proprietary locomotion controller and provides a basic SDK for user application development. It does not include the wireless vector positioning module, 4G GPS, or voice function that are standard on the Pro and X variants.

Use Cases

The Go2 Air is used primarily for education, hobbyist experimentation, and entry-level research into quadruped locomotion. Its lidar enables simple autonomous navigation in flat environments, and the SDK allows basic custom behaviour development. It is not designed for industrial inspection or rugged outdoor deployment in adverse weather.

Buying Used

The Go2 Air has a growing secondhand market through eBay UK and Facebook Marketplace, given its consumer price point. Used units range from £600 to £900. Check that the lidar unit is undamaged and that all 12 joints articulate smoothly. Battery health is a concern on older units; test runtime under a 3 kg payload to verify the battery has not degraded significantly.

Alternatives to Consider

• Unitree Go2 Pro ($2,800): Upgraded wireless vector positioning, 4G GPS, voice function, and ROS2 support for a modest additional cost; recommended for any serious development work.
• Petoi Bittle X: Lower cost open-source quadruped for programming education, though far smaller and incapable of real-world navigation.
• Unitree Go2 X ($4,500): Higher top speed (3.7 m/s), autonomous charging dock support, and full secondary development access for professional inspection and research.