Chinese robotics powerhouse Unitree officially unveiled the Unitree As2, a next-generation quadruped robot designed to bridge the gap between consumer-grade pets and heavy-duty industrial machines.
Marketed as a “Hiking Partner” and a lightweight industrial assistant, the As2 offers roughly double the performance of its predecessor, the Go2, while maintaining a compact, 18kg frame.
Key Performance & Specs
The As2 is built for real-world endurance and agility, featuring significant upgrades in torque and speed.
| Feature | Specification |
| Max Speed | 5 m/s (approx. 11 mph) — faster than a typical human jog. |
| Joint Torque | 90 N·m — allowing it to carry significant weight and climb steep terrain. |
| Payload | 15 kg (walking) / Can support a 100 kg standing load (static). |
| Endurance | 4+ hours (unloaded) / ~2.5 hours (with 15 kg load). |
| Range | Over 13 to 20 kilometers on a single charge. |
| Durability | IP54 rating (dust and rain resistant); operates from -20°C to 50°C. |
Intelligence: ISS 3.0 & “Embodied AI”
Unitree has integrated a “bionic embodied large model” into the As2, making its movements and interactions more fluid and autonomous.
- ISS 3.0 System: The “Intelligent Side-follow System” allows the robot to track its owner with centimeter-level precision, moving alongside or behind them without needing manual control.
- Terrain Navigation: It can climb stairs up to 25 cm high, handle 40-degree slopes, and jump onto vertical platforms as high as 50 cm.
- Obstacle Avoidance: Equipped with ultra-wide-angle 4D LiDAR and 3D vision, providing a near-zero blind spot for navigating crowded or complex environments.
Configurations & Pricing
The As2 is released in three distinct versions to suit different user needs:
- Air: The lightweight base model with a smaller battery (8,000mAh) and standard LiDAR.
- Pro: Features a larger 15,000mAh battery, industrial-grade LiDAR, and enhanced processing power.
- Edu: The developer-focused flagship, which supports an open secondary development ecosystem and optional accessories like a 7-axis dexterous robotic arm.
Note on Pricing: As of late February 2026, Unitree has listed the As2 as “Contact Sales” on their official website, signaling that initial batches are being prioritized for industrial partners and research institutions.
Market Context: The “Orion” Controversy
The As2 launch follows a high-profile controversy at the India AI Impact Summit earlier this month (Feb 18, 2026). Galgotias University faced significant backlash after presenting a Unitree Go2 (renamed “Orion”) as their own in-house developed robot. The university eventually apologized, clarifying that the robot was a commercial platform used for student research, not an original creation.
