Laikago
Advanced Quadruped Robot for Research and Education
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Laikago is Unitree Robotics' first-generation quadruped robot designed for research, education, and industrial applications. With 12 degrees of freedom and advanced motor control, it delivers dynamic locomotion capabilities including walking, running, and stair climbing. The platform targets universities, research institutions, and developers seeking an affordable alternative to high-end quadruped systems.
Released: 2018
RoboZaps evaluation note
Buyer-side view of Laikago
RoboZaps reviews Laikago as part of a broader robot shortlist, not as a single-vendor pitch. Buyers should compare availability, deployment maturity, support terms, integration work, and total cost before committing.
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- Verify local training, maintenance, parts, and uptime terms.
Best fit
Teams that need to compare Laikago against otherquadrupeds options with deployment readiness, commercial terms, and support assumptions made explicit.
Not best fit
Buyers who need a guaranteed off-the-shelf deployment before confirming current availability, integrator coverage, site readiness, and post-sale support ownership.
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Overview
The Laikago quadruped robot represents Unitree Robotics' entry into the advanced legged robotics market, positioning itself as an accessible alternative to platforms like Boston Dynamics' Spot. Named after the famous Soviet space dog, Laikago combines robust mechanical design with sophisticated control algorithms to achieve dynamic locomotion capabilities that were previously only available in much more expensive systems.
Built around 12 high-torque brushless motors with custom planetary gearboxes, Laikago demonstrates impressive agility for its class. The robot can traverse rough terrain, climb stairs, recover from disturbances, and perform dynamic gaits including trotting and bounding. Its modular design philosophy allows researchers to customize and extend the platform with additional sensors and computing hardware.
Laikago has been widely adopted by universities and research institutions worldwide as a platform for studying legged locomotion, control theory, and autonomous navigation. Its combination of performance and relative affordability has made it a popular choice for labs that previously couldn't access high-end quadruped platforms.
Key Features
- Dynamic locomotion: Multiple gaits including walking, trotting, and running at speeds up to 1.3 m/s
- 12 degrees of freedom: Three actuated joints per leg providing full mobility and agility
- Custom motor design: High-torque brushless motors with planetary gearboxes for precise control
- ROS integration: Native support for Robot Operating System enabling rapid development
- Open SDK: Comprehensive software development kit for custom application development
- Robust construction: Durable aluminum frame capable of withstanding research use and falls
- Onboard computing: Integrated processors for real-time control and sensor processing
- Modular payload: Mounting points for cameras, LiDAR, and other sensor packages
Applications
Laikago serves primarily as a research and educational platform for universities and institutions studying legged robotics, biomimetic locomotion, and autonomous systems. Academic labs use it to develop and test novel control algorithms, reinforcement learning approaches, and perception systems for navigating complex environments. Its relatively accessible price point has democratized access to quadruped robotics research that was previously limited to well-funded institutions.
Beyond academia, Laikago has found applications in industrial inspection scenarios where wheeled robots cannot navigate, such as rough outdoor terrain, construction sites, and facility monitoring. Some organizations have explored its use for search and rescue training, educational demonstrations, and as a development platform for testing autonomy software before deploying on more expensive robotic systems.
Technical Highlights
The core innovation of Laikago lies in its motor and control system architecture. Each of the 12 joints uses a custom-designed brushless motor with integrated planetary reduction, position sensors, and motor drivers. This highly integrated approach reduces weight and complexity while providing the torque density needed for dynamic movements. The motor control system operates at high frequencies, enabling responsive force and impedance control that gives Laikago its characteristic smooth and natural movement.
Laikago's control software implements model predictive control (MPC) and whole-body control algorithms that compute optimal joint trajectories in real-time. The system uses proprioceptive feedback from joint encoders and IMU data to maintain balance and adapt to terrain variations. This combination of hardware design and control sophistication allows Laikago to perform behaviors like autonomous recovery from pushes, adaptive stepping over obstacles, and stable operation on inclined and uneven surfaces.
Videos
Specifications
Connectivity
| Communication | WiFi, Ethernet |
Mechanics
| Degrees of Freedom | 12 |
| Locomotion | Quadruped |
Performance
| Max Speed | 1.5 m/s |
| Payload Capacity | 5 kg |
Physical
| Weight | 25 kg |
| Height | 600 mm |
Power
| Battery Life | 1 hours |
Sensing
| Sensors | IMU, force sensors |
Software
| SDK Support | Yes |
| ROS Compatible | Yes |
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