The pet of the future? Creepy robot dog can talk, perform handstands, and even take photos of you

If your real-life dog isn’t as obedient as you’d like, a Chinese firm may have a perfect robotic replacement for you.  

Called Go2, the ‘intelligent quadruped robot’ can dance, do a handstand while wiggling its legs in the air and even rush to greet its owner – just like a real pooch.

It can also climb the stairs, play fetch, emit music from a built-in speaker and even take photos on command, which are sent straight to the owner’s smartphone.

A new promo clip shows the bot showing off its tricks, including jumping between rocks and even working its way around a hedge maze. 

Go2 is similar to the Spot robot dog from rival Boston Dynamics, although it’s been designed for consumers at a hefty price tag of $1,600 (£1,240).  

Show off: The robot dog is seen displaying its impressive capabilities including handstands, jumps and dance moves

Go2 is the creation of Unitree Robotics, a company based in Hangzhou, China, which hails its new product as a ‘revolution in the field of robotics’. 

It follows the release of its predecessor Go1, which was released in 2021 with prices starting from an even heftier $2700 (£2,100). 

The name of the robotics line could be a reference to the ancient Chinese board game Go, renowned for its skill and complexity. 

‘Unitree Go2, as a quadruped robot, is not only advanced in its configuration and cool appearance, but also offers a range of interactive functions, perfectly simulating the behaviour of a real pet dog,’ the firm says in a statement. 

‘This robot is not only an outstanding example of high-tech achievements, but also an indispensable part of future intelligent life.

‘This product is expected to revolutionize the consumer-grade quadruped robots industry, leading to a transformation of the sector.’ 

Go2, which is on sale now on the firm’s website, provides real-time mapping of terrain that a user can see on their device. 

Go2 is the creation of Unitree Robotics, a company based in Hangzhou, China, which hails its new product as a ‘revolution in the field of robotics’

The firm’s newest robotic pooch even provides real-time mapping of terrain that the owner can see on their device

What a good boy! In the promo video Go2 greets its owner and even holds out a ‘paw’ – just like a real dog

READ MORE: Spot the robot dog dances to BTS

Seven of the robots can be seen performing a choreographed routine to the hit song ‘Permission to Dance’, by K-Pop band BTS  

To navigate around terrain, Go2 uses LIDAR, a remote sensing technology that uses reflected light to create 3D models and maps of nearby objects. 

Much like a smart speaker, it recognises human voices and can respond to commands and questions, such as ‘can you take my photo?’ 

A camera where the dog’s face would be has an ultra-wide angle lens to deliver snaps of ‘rich clarity’ whenever the command is given. 

An accompanying smartphone app lets users view the photos and even see a feed of Go2’s surroundings from the dog’s point of view. 

The dog is also ’empowered’ by a kind of artificial intelligence (AI) known as a large language model, meaning it’s been trained on vast amounts of text and audio to respond in a human-like way. 

In the promo, it responds to its human with a creepy robotic voice – ‘Welcome home!’ – when he returns from work. 

Unitree claims Go2 is able to make decisions based on information from a sensor, positioned on one of its back ‘feet’. 

Go2 knows how to navigate around a hedge maze thanks to LIDAR, a remote sensing technology that uses reflected light to create 3D models and maps of nearby objects

‘Moves well in complex terrain’: The Chinese company hails its new product as a ‘revolution in the field of robotics’

As it gathers more and more information it learns the ‘unique characteristics’ of the user, making it his or her ‘closest friend’, the firms adds. 

Its unclear exactly what information about the owner it uses in this way; MailOnline has contacted the company for more. 

It also has an extendable arm on its back with a claw on the end that can pick up objects – such as a toy to return to its owner. 

With its four legs and animal-like agility, Go2 is similar to Spot, the canine-like robot from US company Boston Dynamics. 

Unitree and Boston Dynamics are two of the biggest rivals in the robotics industry, although the former has been more focused on commercially available consumer models at more affordable prices. 

Spot was announced by Boston Dynamics back in 2016 and underwent various trials before being released commercially on June 17, 2020 

Spot, Boston Dynamics’ most famous robot creation, first went on sale in 2020 and costs a whopping $75,000 (£60,000). 

Compared to Unitree’s Go line, Spot has been more directed at businesses, to assist employees in industries such as construction, defence, and building conservation.

It’s even been used by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX to inspect launch sites soon after rockets have blasted off. 

Both companies have been involved in debates about the possible dangers of robotic devices, as portrayed in the 2017 Black Mirror episode ‘Metalhead’. 

In October both firms were among those that signed a letter pledging not to support efforts to ‘weaponize’ its products by some customers.