Unitree B2 Timeline

Unitree released the B2-W, a variant of the B2 that replaces the standard feet with integrated wheel units. The B2-W can transition dynamically between legged locomotion for rough terrain and wheeled rolling for flat surfaces — extending operational efficiency in mixed environments such as factory floors connected to outdoor areas or multi-level facilities. The B2-W retains the core B2 body, compute, and sensor platform.

B2 units began appearing in reported deployments across power-grid inspection, petrochemical facility patrol, and factory-floor automation applications in China and internationally. The robot's IP67 rating, extended endurance, and stair-climbing capability made it viable for facilities that mix indoor and outdoor environments, or that require operation across multiple building levels without the constraint of lifts or ramps.

Unitree Robotics officially launched the B2 industrial quadruped robot. The announcement highlighted significant performance gains over Unitree's previous industrial platform: peak joint torque of 360 N·m (up 170%), maximum running speed exceeding 6 m/s (described as the fastest running industrial-grade quadruped at the time), standing load capacity of 120 kg (up 100%), and endurance exceeding 5 hours unloaded. The B2 was made available for purchase through Unitree's online shop and authorised resellers.

Unitree released the Go2 — a lower-cost consumer-grade quadruped aimed at research and education — alongside the B1, an industrial quadruped that served as the direct predecessor to the B2. The B1 established the industrial quadruped line that the B2 would supersede, and its deployment in inspection and patrol roles provided Unitree with operational data that informed the B2's design priorities: higher torque, greater endurance, tougher environmental protection, and expanded load capacity.

Unitree released the A1, a lightweight quadruped aimed at research institutions and universities. The A1 attracted international attention for its combination of agile performance and a price point substantially below that of Boston Dynamics Spot, which had been released commercially in 2020 at approximately US$74,500. The A1's success demonstrated that capable legged robotics did not require the engineering budgets of established US or European manufacturers, establishing Unitree as a credible alternative in the global research robotics market.

Unitree Robotics was founded by Xingxing Wang in Hangzhou, China. The company's initial focus was on legged robotic locomotion, with an ambition to bring capable quadruped robots to market at prices accessible to research institutions rather than only to well-funded corporate or government customers. Unitree's early work on low-cost actuators and control systems for legged robots laid the mechanical foundation for every subsequent product in the company's line, from the consumer-grade Laikago through to the industrial B2.