Unitree Z1 Air Robot Arm (Z1-AIR)

An arm is only as useful as the tool at its wrist, and only as adaptable as the software that drives it. The Unitree Z1 Air Robot Arm (Z1-AIR) is built around both ideas. Different actuators can be exchanged quickly at the end of the manipulator, and the control program and control interface are being opened progressively. The result is a six-axis arm weighing 4.3kg that treats its end tool and its control code as variables rather than fixed decisions. That suits teams whose list of tasks is still being written, where today's gripping experiment may become tomorrow's inspection or sorting trial.

Robots Europa, based in Dublin, supplies the Z1 Air to universities, research institutes, system integrators and companies throughout the European Union and the DACH region. Robots Europa prepares each quotation, arranges delivery and provides support once the arm is in service. A laboratory in Munich, Vienna or Zurich therefore deals with a single European point of contact from the first enquiry to commissioning.

Background

Unitree Robotics and its move into manipulation

Unitree Robotics is best known for its legged robots, the quadrupeds and humanoids that have become familiar platforms in research laboratories and engineering departments. A walking robot can carry sensors almost anywhere, but it cannot open a cabinet, pick up a sample or press a button without help. The Z1 series is Unitree's answer to that limitation: a family of robotic arms designed to work on mobile robots as well as on a fixed base. The series comes in two versions, the Z1 AIR described on this page and the Z1 PRO. They share the same reach, repeatability, power supply and control architecture, and differ in weight and in payload rating.

Joint technology shared across the arm

Each joint of the Z1 is driven by a compact motor measuring Φ65*52mm and weighing 405g, with a maximum torque of 33N·m. The motors are paired with a harmonic reducer, a gear type widely used in robot arms because it offers high reduction ratios in a small volume with very little backlash. Joint position is read by an encoder with a resolution of 15bit, and the control loop runs at 1KHz. Together these elements explain how an arm light enough to ride on a mobile platform still achieves a repeatability of ～0.1mm, and why it can offer position and force control rather than simple point-to-point motion.

Technical Specifications

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

Unitree has not published the overall dimensions of the arm, an IP rating, an operating temperature range, the maximum end-effector speed, SDK or ROS details on its product page, or the contents of the box; Robots Europa confirms these points at quotation.

What makes the Z1 Air different from the Z1 Pro?

On most of the specification sheet the two versions are identical. Both offer six axes, a reach of 740mm and a repeatability of ～0.1mm; both run from a 24V supply, connect over Ethernet, work with Ubuntu as the user operating system and provide position and force control. The difference lies in the balance between mass and load. The Z1 Air weighs 4.3kg and is rated for a payload of 2kg, while the Unitree Z1 Pro Robot Arm (Z1-Pro) is rated for a heavier payload at a slightly higher arm weight.

For a fixed bench installation the extra mass of the Pro rarely matters. On a mobile robot, however, every kilogram on the arm is a kilogram the host platform must carry, balance and power. Where the planned tasks involve light objects, sensors or small tools, the Z1 Air keeps the load on the carrier robot lower without giving up reach or precision. Where the tool itself is heavy, or the objects to be handled approach the Air's rating, the Pro is the more prudent choice, and Robots Europa can advise on that decision when preparing the quotation.

Why does position and force control matter on a lightweight arm?

A purely position-controlled arm moves to a target and holds it, regardless of what it meets on the way. That works for repetitive placement in a protected cell, but less well when the arm shares space with people, works on a moving base or must touch objects whose exact position is uncertain. The Z1 Air's control interface combines position and force control, so applications can regulate how firmly the arm presses, pushes or holds, not only where it goes.

The 1KHz control frequency gives software a fine time resolution for this kind of regulation, and the 15bit encoders supply the position feedback it relies on. For researchers studying contact-rich manipulation, compliant behaviour or human–robot interaction, this combination is often more important than raw payload, and it is available on the Air in the same form as on the Pro.

Who is the Unitree Z1 Air Robot Arm (Z1-AIR) for?

The first group is research laboratories working on mobile manipulation. The Z1 series is suitable for on-board use on all kinds of mobile robots, and the Air's lower weight makes it a natural candidate for legged or wheeled platforms where load matters. Teams building such systems may also wish to browse the Quadruped Accessories range alongside the arm.

The second group is universities and technical colleges that teach robotics. An arm running on Ubuntu and connected over Ethernet fits easily into a teaching laboratory, and the open programming and expansion interfaces give students room to write their own control code rather than operate a closed system.

The third group is integrators and product developers exploring applications in e-commerce logistics, new retail formats and services for daily life. For them the quick-change end of the manipulator is a practical advantage, because one arm can be tested with several tools before a final configuration is chosen.

Buyers whose tools or objects are heavier should consider the Z1 Pro, and those who prefer a ready-made gripper configuration can look at the Unitree Z1 Pro Robot Arm with Z1 Gripper. The complete range is listed in the Unitree Arms category.

What is the Unitree Z1 Air Robot Arm (Z1-AIR) used for?

1. Mobile manipulation: mounted on a quadruped or wheeled robot, it adds grasping and interaction to a platform that could previously only move and observe.
2. E-commerce logistics: trials of picking, placing and handling light items in warehouse and fulfilment settings.
3. New consumption and retail: service and vending concepts in which an arm prepares, hands over or arranges products.
4. Daily-life assistance research: studies of household and assistive tasks where force control helps the arm handle objects gently.
5. End-effector development: testing grippers, sensors or custom tools thanks to the quick-change interface at the end of the manipulator.
6. Teaching and control research: courses and projects on kinematics, trajectory planning and force control using the open programming interface.

Pricing and Availability

Robots Europa supplies the Z1 Air on the basis of an individual quotation, which reflects the configuration, any end-effectors or accessories and the destination of the order. Delivery, customs and support are arranged with the quotation, so the offer you receive covers the arm as it will actually arrive at your site. Robots Europa can also advise on host platforms, tools and integration while the quotation is being prepared. To begin, simply tell us about your project and intended host platform; the request form is available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What payload can the Z1 Air handle?

The Z1 Air is rated for a payload of 2kg. If your tool or objects are heavier, the Z1 Pro, which is rated for a heavier payload, is the better match.

How far can the arm reach?

The Z1 Air has a reach of 740mm, the same as the Z1 Pro.

Which operating system and interface does it use?

The user operating system is Ubuntu and the arm connects over Ethernet. Its control interface offers position and force control.

Can I change the tool at the end of the arm?

Yes. Different actuators can be quickly replaced at the end of the manipulator, and the programming and expansion interfaces are open for development.

What power supply does the arm require?

The arm runs on a 24V supply with a current of more than 20A, and its maximum power is 500w.

Is an IP rating or operating temperature range available?

Neither an IP rating nor an operating temperature range is listed for the Z1 Air. Robots Europa provides these details, together with dimensions and box contents, with the quotation.

Where can I buy the Unitree Z1 Air Robot Arm (Z1-AIR) and what does it cost?

You can buy the Z1 Air from Robots Europa, which supplies customers across the EU and the DACH region. The cost depends on configuration and destination, so Robots Europa provides it in a personal quotation that includes delivery, customs and support.

Summary

The Z1 Air rewards teams that expect their requirements to change. Its wrist accepts different actuators, its programming interfaces are open, and its control combines position with force, so the same arm can move from one experiment to the next without being replaced. At 4.3kg with a 740mm reach and ～0.1mm repeatability, it gives a mobile robot or a laboratory bench precise manipulation without burdening the host with unnecessary mass. Where heavier loads are expected, the Z1 Pro is the natural alternative. For a quotation from Robots Europa, with delivery and support across Europe, this page is the starting point.