October 10, 2025 – Yesterday (October 9), Time magazine unveiled its list of the Best Inventions of 2025, and among the standout entries in the robotics category was Unitree R1, a bipedal humanoid robot developed by China’s Unitree Robotics.
Unlike most contemporary robots—ranging from drones to self-driving cars—that fall far short of the humanoid vision portrayed in science fiction, Unitree R1 breaks the mold. Launched in July of this year, this programmable bipedal robot is priced at just 39,900 yuan, making it accessible to researchers, educators, and software developers working on AI and robotics projects.
Weighing a mere 55 pounds (about 23 kilograms), the R1 is equipped with built-in artificial intelligence, featuring capabilities like voice recognition and image processing. With 26 joints (compared to roughly 300 in the human body), it can perform impressive feats such as boxing, running, and even cartwheels, captivating audiences with its agility.
Since 2000, Time has annually highlighted the world’s most groundbreaking inventions, products, and ideas. This year, the list expanded to 300 entries, spanning cutting-edge fields like robotics, AI, and health.
In the robotics category, Unitree R1 shared the spotlight with other innovative creations, including Figure 03 (a home robot), EufyMake E1 UV Printer (a home 3D printer), and HoverAir X1 ProMax (your personal aerial photographer).
