- The new industrial robot marks Unitree’s entry into the fast-growing wheeled-legged robotics segment
- The launch highlights intensifying competition between China’s leading quadruped makers on real-world industrial deployments
Unitree (宇树科技), a humanoid and quadrupedal robot startup, unveiled the As2-W, a wheeled-legged version of its As2 industrial quadruped on July 24.
This launch has expanded its product lineup into a segment increasingly targeted at logistics, inspection and other industrial applications.
The launch puts the Hangzhou-based company in direct competition with fellow Hangzhou robot maker DEEP Robotics (云深处科技), whose Lynx S10 wheeled-legged robot made its debut in May.
Like the Lynx S10, the As2-W combines the speed and efficiency of wheels with the terrain adaptability of legged locomotion. But the two products target different use cases.
The As2-W weighs about 25 kilograms with batteries installed and supports payloads of up to 180 kilograms while standing, as per a demo video published by Unitree.
However, Unitree has so far disclosed only limited specifications for the As2-W, including its weight and payload capacity.
The company has yet to release details such as battery life, speed or sensor configuration.
By comparison, its variant, the A2-W, features a dual hot-swappable battery system for uninterrupted operation, delivers more than 3.5 hours of runtime unloaded, or 1.5 hours while carrying a 25-kilogram payload.
Additionally, the A2-W offers IP56 protection, with key components optionally rated IP67.
Challenging the cross-town rival
By comparison, the Lynx S10 weighs less than 20 kilograms, reaches speeds of up to 8 meters per second on flat ground, supports advanced balancing maneuvers such as standing on two legs, and carries an IP66 protection rating.
Its lighter design emphasizes mobility and rapid deployment rather than heavy-duty industrial tasks.
China’s quadruped robotics market is shifting from showcasing technical capabilities to competing on application-specific product design.
Unitree and DEEP Robotics have emerged as the country’s two dominant players.
Unitree reported nearly 1.7 billion yuan ($251 million) in revenue and shipped more than 23,000 quadruped robots in 2025.
By contrast, DEEP Robotics generated 337 million yuan in revenue and delivered about 2,900 units. Both companies have become profitable and are pursuing a STAR Market IPO on Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Why it matters globally
The As2-W’s debut signals that competition among Chinese robot makers is moving beyond proving technological feasibility toward refining product positioning, reducing costs and accelerating iteration.
Chinese robotics companies have repeatedly demonstrated an ability to leverage engineering optimization and integrated supply chains to slash prices.
With DEEP Robotics’ Lynx S10 already establishing itself as a competitively priced industrial platform, Unitree’s entry gives overseas buyers another option in the emerging wheeled-legged robot category.
As the two companies compete on performance, cost and deployment speed, they are helping reshape the global competitive landscape for industrial quadruped robots.
