Unitree R1-A5 Smart C Humanoid Robot

Most humanoid demonstrations are won or lost in the hands. A robot can walk, turn and wave, yet the work that matters begins when something has to be picked up. The Unitree R1-A5 Smart C Humanoid Robot is a compact dual-arm platform built around that moment, and the Smart C configuration is the one that arrives with a tactile dexterous hand and on-board compute already specified.

The product is available through this page, by quotation.

Background

Unitree and the R1 family

Unitree Robotics is a Chinese manufacturer best known for legged robots and humanoids that research labs, universities and integrators have adopted as working platforms. Its approach has been to put capable hardware in front of developers early and let them build on it. The R1-A5 belongs to that tradition: a dual-arm humanoid built for ultra-fast deployment and multi-scenario application.

The family is named in versions. The sources list R1-A5, R1-A7, R1-A5-D, R1-A7-D and R1-A5 Smart C, and our catalog also carries the Unitree R1-A5 Fixed Base Dual-Arm Humanoid Robot and several other Smart lettered configurations. You can browse them together under the Unitree R1 category or the narrower Unitree R1-A5 category.

What the Smart C configuration is

The Smart C configuration is defined by two components. The first is the Dex3-1 Hand in its tactile version, fitted with an RGB camera. The second is built-in compute: an Orin Nano rated at 40 Tops. Together they turn the base R1-A5 body into something a team can put to work on perception and manipulation without first sourcing a hand and a compute module on its own.

Underneath, the platform uses low-inertia, high-speed inner rotor PMSM joint motors, which give superior responsiveness and heat dissipation. Secondary development is open across the full stack, so the software side is not a closed box.

Technical Specifications

Specifications as published by the manufacturer; confirmed against the datasheet at quotation.

The manufacturer has not published the operating temperature range, the IP rating, the battery capacity, the speed of arm motion, the power supply voltage and wattage, or the box contents for the Smart C; they are confirmed at quotation.

What makes the R1-A5 Smart C different from the base R1-A5?

The base R1-A5 is the dual-arm body with its head, waist, cameras and audio. The Smart C adds a named hand and a named compute module to that body. The difference is therefore not in the reach of the arms or the motion of the head, which belong to the platform, but in what sits at the end of the arm and what processes the data.

That matters for planning. A team that starts from a bare platform has to choose a hand, integrate it, and decide where perception runs. With the Smart C, the hand is the Dex3-1 in its tactile version, so contact information is part of the design from the start, and the Orin Nano at 40 Tops is built in. If you would rather begin from the body alone, the Unitree R1-A5 Fixed Base Dual-Arm Humanoid Robot is the page to compare.

What does the tactile Dex3-1 hand bring to the work?

A camera tells a robot where an object is. A tactile hand tells it what happened once the fingers closed. Having both on the same hand, since the Dex3-1 carries an RGB camera, lets a developer pair what the hand sees with what it feels. That pairing is useful for studying grasp success, slip, and the handling of objects whose shape or firmness is not known in advance.

The platform also keeps its other senses. The binocular camera covers 146° horizontally and 124° vertically, the four-array microphone and dual speakers allow voice interaction, and WiFi 6 with Bluetooth 5.2 handles connectivity. The head turns through yaw ± 115° and pitch ± 36°, while the R1-A5 waist turns through yaw ± 150°, so the robot can look around a workspace before it reaches into it.

Who is the Unitree R1-A5 Smart C for?

Research laboratories and university groups are the most natural fit. Open full-stack secondary development means a team can write its own control and perception software, and the tactile hand gives manipulation researchers something to measure. Teaching programs benefit as well, because a compact humanoid torso is easier to set up on a bench than a full-size walking machine.

System integrators and product teams form the second group. They can use the Smart C to prove out a manipulation concept, such as a service or inspection scenario, before committing to a production design. Buyers who want a different bundle can compare the Unitree R1-A5 Smart A Humanoid Robot configuration, and the end effector options for the platform include a two-finger gripper, a three-finger dexterous hand and a five-finger dexterous hand.

What is the Unitree R1-A5 Smart C used for?

1. Manipulation research. Study grasping with a tactile hand and a camera on the same end effector.
2. Teaching robotics. Give students a dual-arm humanoid they can program through open secondary development.
3. Perception development. Run vision and audio workloads on the built-in Orin Nano with the binocular camera and microphone array.
4. Human-robot interaction. Build voice and gesture demonstrations using the speakers, microphones and head motion.
5. Prototype integration. Test a workcell or service concept before a final system is specified.
6. Operational evaluation. Assess how a humanoid torso fits a task, a site or a workflow before wider adoption.

Pricing and Availability

We do not print prices on this page. Pricing is provided as a quotation, prepared for the configuration and accessories you need. Delivery, customs and support are arranged together with the quotation, so that you see the whole arrangement in one place. The Unitree R1-A5 Smart C Humanoid Robot is available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hand does the Smart C include?

The Smart C configuration lists the Dex3-1 Hand in its tactile version, with an RGB camera. Other end effectors are offered as options on the platform.

What compute does it have?

An Orin Nano rated at 40 Tops is built in.

How long does the battery last?

Battery-powered operation lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

Can I write my own software for it?

Yes. The platform is open to full-stack secondary development.

How big is it and how heavy?

The R1-A5 measures 700x357x190mm and weighs approximately 11kg with the external power supply.

Does it come with a charger?

Yes, the charger is included.

Where can I buy the Unitree R1-A5 Smart C Humanoid Robot and what does it cost?

You can request it through this page. The cost is given as a quotation for your configuration, with delivery, customs and support arranged alongside it.

Summary

Hands decide whether a humanoid is a demonstration or a tool, and the Smart C is specified with that in mind: a tactile Dex3-1 hand with its own camera, 40 Tops of built-in compute, and a body with wide head and waist motion and open software. If manipulation, perception or teaching is your goal, this page is the starting point.