Robot Buyers Guide

Selecting the right robot is crucial depending on how you intend to us it. It could be simply to perform a repetitive task, or you may want to conduct robot-human interaction research or be working on an application development project. Although at first glance there doesn’t appear to be much difference between similar looking quadruped or humanoid robots, their capability for customisation can be significant. This guide walks you through the range of robots available from Scan.

Unitree Robotics Family

Robot Propulsion

The first decision when choosing a robot, should be how it moves. Quadruped robots are four-legged and mimic the movement of animals such as horses and dogs, whereas a humanoid robot is two-legged and two-armed and mimic the motion of humans.

Quadruped Robot

Quadruped Robot

Humanoid Robot

Humanoid Robot

The choice between the two style comes down to largely what you will be used for, as each has numerous advantages and disadvantages. Quadruped robots being four-legged have a wider base of support, making them more stable and thus more suitable for uneven surfaces or rough terrain. This makes them ideal for inspection, rescue, agricultural or surveillance uses, however the complexity of four-legged movement consumes more energy. In contrast, humanoid robots have an upper body free for manipulation, offering dexterity and delicate motor skills. They are also highly moveable with the ability to adjust their centre of gravity. They can be more energy efficient especially when performing stationary tasks and are suited to complex tasks and human-robot interaction scenarios, as their behaviour can be made very similar to that of a human.

Robot Articulation

How articulate a robot is has a large impact on what it can be used for. Multiple joints and rotation capability will allow a robot to move in a much more fluid manner with greater dexterity and flexibility.

Torque levels within joint motors will further define its agility, speed and endurance. This is how rapid and / or powerful actions can be and what load bearing capabilities the robot will have.

Additionally, LIDAR and depth cameras allow the robot to perceive its environment and will determine how it interacts with surfaces, obstacles and humans. We’ll cover sensors more in the next section.

Further options to look out for are fully dextrous or ambidextrous hands for intricate work.

This combination of sensors, joints and motors offer a huge degree of flexibility, whether you’re considering a quadruped or humanoid robot.

Human Robot Movement
Quadruped Robot Movement

Robot Sensors

The capabilities of a robot performing any given task will depend on how it senses its environment. This is done by having a range of onboard sensors to feedback what is happening or how the external environment is perceived by the robot. Sensors such as 360O cameras and 3D or 4D LIDAR with up to 128,000 points per sec sampling allow the robot to perceive its environment. They also allow advanced features such as constructing a point cloud map within a certain area, where the robot can be programmed to move autonomously, as illustrated below.

Additionally, functions such as wireless vector positioning and control technology provide accurate positioning, and when combined with optimised obstacle avoidance can make the robot better traverse complex terrain, as shown below.

Robot Options

Many robots are customisable with additional features to enhance their use. These include dextrous hands for bipedal robots and grappling arms, extra cameras or charging stations, so you continue to get more from your robot even if you initially choose a more basic model.

Robot Development Platforms

Although most robots will come will inbuilt CPUs and software platforms capable of OTA (over-the-air) updates to get all the latest features from the manufacturer, it is likely you’ll want to develop the robots skills sets further by use of machine learning or AI models. This can be best achieved using our range of GPU-accelerated Development Workstations from 3XS Systems.

3XS Dev Workstations

These cutting-edge workstations offer the latest NVIDIA RTX PRO GPUs, supported by a comprehensive framework of ROBOTIC APPLICATIONS to get the most from your investment and to accelerate training, simulation, and deployment of advanced robotic models.

VIEW RANGE

Robot Use Cases

Having looked at the styles and capabilities of robots, let’s now have a deeper look into the range of robots from Scan and our key partner Unitree. Click on the below tabs to explore use cases.

Robots for Consumer Use or for Demonstration Purposes
Unitree Go2 AIR

Unitree Go2 AIR

The Go2 AIR is an entry-level quadruped robot designed for general use. It's a lightweight and cost-effective option that comes with built-in features such as voice control, app-based navigation, and obstacle avoidance. This model is perfect for education, demonstrations, and light commercial applications where simplicity and accessibility are key.

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Unitree Go2 Pro

Unitree Go2 Pro

An enhanced version of the Go2 AIR, the Go2 Pro offers improved sensors, greater articulation, and a higher top speed. It is engineered for more demanding commercial and interactive environments, providing advanced navigation systems and increased responsiveness for users looking to push performance further while maintaining ease of use.

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Unitree G1

Unitree G1

The humanoid G1 serves as a platform for mobility-based AI use cases and human interaction research. It features vision-based navigation, gesture interaction, and full-body motion coordination, making it suitable for experimental and demonstration environments requiring advanced control and feedback systems with human-robot collaboration capabilities.

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Robots for Education or Research Purposes
Unitree Go2 EDU

Unitree Go2 EDU

The quadruped Go2 EDU bridges the gap between consumer convenience and developer flexibility. It is designed with educational institutions and research labs in mind, offering SDK support for programming and curriculum integration. This model is ideal for users who want a robust development platform with the simplicity of built-in consumer functionality.

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Unitree G1 EDU

Unitree G1 EDU

Tailored for educational and research settings, the humanoid G1 EDU includes an open SDK and is powered by the NVIDIA Jetson Orin for high-performance AI computing. This version enables deep customisation and AI development, making it a perfect fit for university labs and experimental robotics programs.

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Robots for Development or Industrial Purposes
Unitree B2

Unitree B2

The B2 is a robust quadruped robot built for heavy-duty industrial applications. With powerful motors, superior torque, and agile mobility, it is well-suited for rugged outdoor environments. It supports autonomous navigation and AI perception, making it a reliable option for inspection tasks, logistics, and complex deployments.

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Unitree B2-W

Unitree B2-W

Expanding on the B2’s capabilities, the B2-W is a water-resistant variant designed to perform in harsh environments involving water, mud, or moisture. This model is ideal for tasks such as agricultural monitoring, search and rescue operations, or any scenario requiring environmental resilience alongside AI-driven autonomy.

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Unitree H1

Unitree H1

The H1 is a high-performance humanoid robot designed for fast, fluid movement and real-time AI interaction. Featuring advanced sensors, precise motion control, and full-body balance systems, it integrates the NVIDIA Jetson Orin for processing complex AI tasks. It's suitable for research environments exploring real-world interaction and autonomous mobility.

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Summary

Model Go2 AIR Go2 Pro Go2 EDU G1 G1 EDU B2 B2-W H1 H1-2
Use Case Entry-level, consumer Commercial applications Education + light dev Humanoid AI applications Education, research Industrial quadruped Industrial + water resistance Advanced humanoid research Cutting-edge AI robotics
AI Development ✖ ✖ Partial ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Jetson Orin ✖ ✖ Optional ✖ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Commercial Use ✔ ✔ ✔ ✖ ✖ ✔ ✔ ✖ ✖
Rugged/Industrial ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✔ ✔ Partial Partial

Ready to Buy?

Unitree Robotics Family

Whether you're deploying mobile robots, designing intelligent control systems, or advancing human-machine interaction, Scan is your one-stop robotics partner.

Our expertise spans edge AI, sensor integration, autonomous navigation, and real-time inference — backed by a full ecosystem of hardware, software, simulation tools, and consultancy. We work closely with engineers, researchers, and innovators to deliver robotics solutions that are technically robust, commercially viable, and ready for the environments they’ll operate in.

If you'd like further advice on your robotics project contact our dedicated robotics team or find out more on our robotics website.

Browse our range of robots

QUADRUPED ROBOTS HUMANOID ROBOTS