The evolution of automation with humanoid and quadrupedal robots: Booster and Unitree

The evolution of digital technologies and automation has redefined the parameters of operational efficiency across multiple industrial and professional sectors. In this constantly transforming scenario, 3Digital confirms itself as a primary point of reference, consolidating its leading position in the advanced robotics market and offering cutting-edge technological solutions calibrated to the needs of businesses, organizations, and professionals.

The growing interest in the robotics sector is not a temporary trend, but rather a concrete response to the strategic need to optimize production processes, increase operational precision, and reduce the risks associated with high-intensity or demanding tasks. Thanks to recent advances in the integration of high-definition sensors, artificial vision systems, and artificial intelligence algorithms, modern robotic platforms offer unprecedented levels of autonomy, flexibility, and safety. This technological convergence is transforming robotics into a key factor for corporate competitiveness, driving increasingly widespread adoption in fields ranging from infrastructure inspection and land surveying to logistics, industrial maintenance, and the management of complex scenarios.

Delving into the dynamics fueling this technological ferment, the industry's focus is decidedly concentrating on anthropomorphic morphology robotics and advanced bipedal systems, capable of replicating the mobility, agility, and structural versatility of human beings. The fundamental reason for this orientation lies in the possibility of integrating these units directly into existing, human-centric work environments, without the need to redesign physical infrastructure or operational spaces. Platforms equipped with complex kinematics, high freedom of movement, and dynamic load capacity allow for tackling uneven terrain, vertical obstacles, and rough paths previously inaccessible to classic wheeled or tracked systems. This evolutionary leap, combined with software architecture capable of processing spatial perception in real-time and performing highly precise manipulative or monitoring tasks, makes humanoid and bipedal units the definitive tool for automating critical inspections, advanced surveillance, and the management of heavy or high-risk tasks in industrial, research, and rescue scenarios.

In addition to bipedal and anthropomorphic systems, a fundamental role in the transformation of modern automation is played by quadrupedal robotics, also known as canine robotics. This specific mechanical configuration offers exceptional stabilization, grip, and load distribution capabilities, allowing devices to move nimbly on uneven surfaces, staircases, dirt paths, and rough terrain where traditional wheels are ineffective. The four-legged architecture guarantees high movement dynamics and mechanical resistance ideal for continuous field activities, making these quadrupeds irreplaceable platforms for light logistics, construction site inspection, perimeter surveillance, and environmental monitoring in remote areas or areas at risk for human operators.

A further decisive advantage of adopting advanced robotics lies in the high degree of programmability and customization of the platforms, which allows the units to be adapted to a wide variety of use cases and application sectors. Through the use of open software architectures, dedicated development kits, and support for major robotics programming standards such as ROS, companies and research centers can implement proprietary algorithms, integrate specialized third-party sensors, and develop custom operational routines. This total configuration flexibility allows the robot to evolve over time in step with business needs, transforming a single hardware platform into a multifunctional tool capable of moving from autonomous industrial plant inspection to academic experimentation, advanced logistics, and environmental monitoring, with a significant impact on long-term investment optimization.

Confirming its commitment to promoting the most advanced technologies, 3Digital includes in its online catalog the humanoid robots developed by Booster Robotics and the quadrupedal robots by Unitree, making the Booster K1, Booster T2, and Unitree Go 2 models directly available on the store for research centers, educational institutions, and highly innovative companies.

The Booster K1 stands out as a compact and extremely flexible platform for embodied development, educational robotics, or competitions, bolstered by its international successes as a champion model in the RoboCup KidSize category. With a height of approximately 95 centimeters and a modest weight of just 19.5 kg, the unit integrates 22 degrees of freedom (DoF) distributed across the legs, arms, and head, driven by actuators capable of delivering a peak torque of up to 60 Nm. The system offers modular AI computing options up to 200 TOPS, stereo depth cameras, 9-axis IMU sensors, and microphone arrays, supported by an operational autonomy of up to 80 minutes. The open architecture and extensive programmability make the K1 the ideal tool for experimenting with locomotion algorithms, artificial vision, and machine learning.

The Booster T2 is, instead, the flagship humanoid platform of standard size, designed for complex tasks of manipulation, perception, and fieldwork. With a height of 1.40 meters and a weight of approximately 42 kg, the T2 features 31 total degrees of freedom, including 7 DoF for each arm and 3 DoF in the torso, combined with high-performance actuators with peak torques reaching 140 Nm and a two-arm load capacity of up to 10 kg. Powered by the computational power of advanced modules like the NVIDIA Jetson Thor T5000 in the Professional variant, the robot achieves walking speeds of up to 3 m/s, offers an autonomy of up to 2 hours of continuous movement, and is equipped with a stereoscopic vision system integrated into its head and waist, in addition to being pre-configured for LiDAR sensors and dexterous hands. The Booster T2 thus configures itself as the definitive solution for exploring real operational scenarios, validating general artificial intelligence algorithms, and advanced automation.

With the aim of offering a complete overview of the latest generation technologies, 3Digital integrates into its commercial offering the benchmark quadrupedal systems of the sector, among which the Unitree Go 2 stands out. Characterized by a light weight of approximately 15 kg and an extremely robust structure, the Go 2 redefines the standards of the category thanks to the integration of a proprietary ultra-wide-angle (360°x96°) 4D LiDAR sensor, which almost completely eliminates blind spots and allows for real-time three-dimensional mapping of the surrounding environment. Equipped with 12 joint motors capable of delivering a peak torque of approximately 45 Nm, the robot reaches movement speeds of up to 5 m/s and is able to perform complex maneuvers and overcome articulated obstacles with extraordinary agility. The integration of artificial intelligence modules for intelligent tracking (ISS 2.0), support for 4G and eSIM connectivity, together with full software programmability via SDK and ROS, make the Unitree Go2 a versatile tool for both academic research and software development, as well as operational corporate field applications.

The platforms mentioned in this article are available for purchase on our online store. Visit the dedicated section of 3Digital to consult detailed technical specifications, request information, or configure the most suitable solution for your development and research projects.