【Robot】iFixit Experts Perform Comprehensive Teardown of Unitree Go2 Robot Dog
Imagine owning a Boston Dynamics-style robot dog for an extremely low cost. The Unitree Go2 is precisely such an advanced, agile, yet surprisingly affordable robotic companion. It is designed for research, education, and practical uses such as surveillance and exploration. Starting at just $1600, it has successfully carved out a unique market niche where it is almost impossible to find a comparable product at this price point.
Recently, the renowned teardown team iFixit turned its attention to this eye-catching product. Unlike their usual focus on mobile phones or computers, iFixit performed its first teardown and analysis of a quadruped robot dog, the Go2, from China's Unitree Robotics. The team provided a comprehensive evaluation report on the Go2, covering its structural design, module installation, and AI functionality.
To thoroughly dissect the Go2's internal structure, iFixit specifically invited robotics expert Marcel Stieber to lead the teardown. Marcel has over ten years of experience in consumer electronics and robotic systems engineering. In this specially produced lengthy teardown video, he meticulously shares his professional insights.
For tech enthusiasts, Marcel's in-depth analysis is a must-see. Let's follow iFixit experts' perspective to uncover the core structure of this robot dog and explore the secrets of its operation.
| Modular Design: Decent Repairability
While we haven't yet established a dedicated repairability scoring system for robot dogs (the sample size for teardowns is still insufficient), overall, the Unitree Go2 performs commendably in this regard.
It starts off well—it ships with replacement foot pads, which is undoubtedly a wise move. After all, those small rubber foot pads are wear-and-tear parts, and they are precisely the vulnerable points we worry most about when assessing repairability.
Speaking of consumables, replacing the battery pack is also quite convenient. Simply remove it manually from the side of the body, unscrew a few screws to open the casing, and you'll find the battery pack itself and its independent management board. Inside, it uses a standard array of 2000mAh 18650 cells.
While we haven't yet established a dedicated repairability scoring system for robot dogs (the sample size for teardowns is still insufficient), overall, the Unitree Go2 performs commendably in this regard.
It starts off well—it ships with replacement foot pads, which is undoubtedly a wise move. After all, those small rubber foot pads are wear-and-tear parts, and they are precisely the vulnerable points we worry most about when assessing repairability.
Speaking of consumables, replacing the battery pack is also quite convenient. Simply remove it manually from the side of the body, unscrew a few screws to open the casing, and you'll find the battery pack itself and its independent management board. Inside, it uses a standard array of 2000mAh 18650 cells.
| Leg Structure: Replaceable but with Barriers
Although this teardown did not completely remove the legs, their design appears to support replacement. However, acquiring replacement parts is not easy—the official website only provides a contact form, and direct ordering is not available. We have contacted Unitree to inquire about purchasing spare motors and legs and will update as soon as we hear back.
Nevertheless, we particularly appreciate the connection design between the leg and the hip joint: they use a metal-on-metal engagement for primary force transmission. The key protective mechanism is a plastic circlip—when the leg experiences excessive external force in an unintended direction (e.g., outward), this (hopefully inexpensive) plastic part breaks first, protecting the more expensive metal structures and motors from damage. With the help of the Lumafield CT scanner, we were able to peer into its internal leg structure:
| Core Motherboard: Hidden but with Clear Interfaces
The robot's sole core motherboard is hidden beneath layers of protection, which is to be expected. However, its modular design is reassuring—it features abundant onboard interfaces, facilitating individual repairs. Each motor connects independently, and most components are clearly labeled.
Of course, extensive use of tape, silicone, epoxy, and glue is unavoidable; for a machine that must withstand repeated impacts and severe vibrations, this is a reasonable engineering reinforcement. Once the technique for disconnecting is mastered, the teardown process becomes much smoother.
| LiDAR:The Hidden "Eye"
One of the Go2's core features is its built-in LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), which aids navigation by emitting laser beams to detect environmental reflections. This allows it to "see" obstacles and build environmental maps, essentially a high-tech solution for achieving human-like depth perception. However, we were slightly surprised that the LiDAR sensor is deeply embedded within the robot's frame, making repair or replacement more difficult than ideal. Fortunately, the sturdy metal casing provides excellent physical protection.
I Built for Adventure, but Not Invincible
The Go2's design is rugged and robust, clearly intended to tackle challenging terrain. We tested it climbing stairs, and it barely made it. Its ability to self-recover from falls is commendable; we even attempted fun tasks like having it "go buy coffee."
However, behind its impressive performance, there are also some design concerns. The neck area's structure is relatively fragile, raising questions about its long-term durability for a robot destined to experience multiple collisions. After opening the casing, we found cracks in the neck's interior from the stair test, confirming this concern.
I Conclusion: A Uniquely Positioned Explorer
The Unitree Go2 cleverly positions itself between a research tool and a consumer electronics product. It is neither a pet nor a full-fledged industrial robot like Boston Dynamics' Spot (which starts at $75,000)—of course, at a fraction of the latter's price, it doesn't need to be. For robotics enthusiasts, it offers an exciting and relatively accessible platform.
Many thanks again to robotics expert Marcel Stieber for his professional support in this in-depth teardown—we highly recommend watching the full teardown video for more details.
However, behind its impressive performance, there are also some design concerns. The neck area's structure is relatively fragile, raising questions about its long-term durability for a robot destined to experience multiple collisions. After opening the casing, we found cracks in the neck's interior from the stair test, confirming this concern.
I Conclusion: A Uniquely Positioned Explorer
The Unitree Go2 cleverly positions itself between a research tool and a consumer electronics product. It is neither a pet nor a full-fledged industrial robot like Boston Dynamics' Spot (which starts at $75,000)—of course, at a fraction of the latter's price, it doesn't need to be. For robotics enthusiasts, it offers an exciting and relatively accessible platform.
Many thanks again to robotics expert Marcel Stieber for his professional support in this in-depth teardown—we highly recommend watching the full teardown video for more details.
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- Contact Us -
3DMart offers more than just 3D printing, we provide three major OEM services: "3D printing services", "3D scanning services", and "spatial 3D scanning services"!!
Follow our fan pages to stay updated with new information:
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