Quadruped Robots by Use Case: Research, Education, Inspection and Security
Which robot dog fits research, teaching, facility inspection or patrol: what matters for each job, the models we sell for it with live US prices, and where to go next.
Most quadruped buying mistakes come from choosing a robot before choosing the job. A teaching lab, a reinforcement-learning group and a substation patrol need different things: development access, runtime, ingress protection, docking, payload. This page sorts the robot dogs we sell by the job they fit, with live US prices that update from our store.
Start here if you are still deciding:
- Comparing prices across every brand? Read the robot dog price guide.
- Already chose the Unitree Go2? Read the Go2 tiers and US buying guide.
- Need a heavy industrial platform? Read the Unitree B2 guide, including B2 vs Spot vs ANYmal.
- Under $5,000? See the best quadrupeds under $5,000.
- Spot or Go2? See Spot vs Go2.
- Want specs side by side? Open the quadruped comparison.
Research
What matters: open development access (an SDK, ROS 2 support and raw sensor data), onboard compute or room to add it, and a community whose code you can reuse. Locomotion research also needs a robot that survives falls, plus spare batteries so one charge does not end the session.
| Model | Price | Why researchers pick it |
|---|---|---|
| Unitree Go2 EDU | $11,090.00 | The EDU tier opens secondary development and adds foot-end force sensors and a depth camera (Unitree). The cheaper Pro model, which has no SDK, has its own listing. |
| AGIBOT D1 EDU | From $4,599.00 | The EDU model adds Ethernet, USB, power, SBUS and UART expansion ports and supports secondary development. The listing also carries the D1 Pro. |
| Deep Robotics Lite3 Pro | Request a Quote | Perception-ready, with expansion interfaces for onboard compute, depth sensing and ROS workflows |
| Unitree As2 EDU Standard | $11,800.00 | A larger (20 kg class) Unitree platform in EDU configurations |
Choose the Go2 EDU unless you have a reason not to. Its community, Unitree's open SDK and ROS 2 packages mean the first month is spent on research rather than drivers.
Education
What matters: price per unit, since classes need several; safety around students; a programming path that starts simple (graphical or Python) and grows to ROS; and spare parts you can actually get.
| Model | Price | Why educators pick it |
|---|---|---|
| DOBOT Explorer | Request a Quote | Built for K-12 through university, with a C++/Python/ROS SDK and IsaacGym simulation support |
| AGIBOT D1 Pro / EDU | From $4,599.00 | Compact, with an EDU model for programming classes |
| AGIBOT D1 EDU Solution | $15,399.00 | A D1 EDU built into an education package. Confirm the package contents for your program |
| Unitree Go2 | $3,690.00 | Pro for demos and outreach, EDU for programming courses |
For a broader classroom list that includes arms and kits, see best robots for STEM education.
Inspection
What matters: runtime per charge, ingress protection for outdoor or wet sites, the ability to carry and power your sensors (thermal, gas, PTZ camera, LiDAR), repeatable autonomous routes, and docking so the robot can recharge without a person.
| Model | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unitree Go2-W Inspection Package | $32,199.00 | Wheel-legged Go2 inspection configuration. Efficient on floors and paved routes |
| Unitree Go2 Ent-MTPTZ | $22,605.00 | Go2 industry (Ent) configuration. Confirm the sensor package on the product page |
| Unitree A2 | $31,800.00 | Industrial quadruped with front and rear LiDAR and hot-swappable dual batteries |
| Unitree B2 | $85,800.00 | IP67 and over 40 kg walking load (Unitree). See the B2 guide |
| Deep Robotics X20 | Request a Quote | Built for substation patrols, pipeline surveys and emergency response |
| Deep Robotics Lynx M20 | Request a Quote | Wheel-legged industrial platform |
Run a pilot on the real route before buying a fleet. Grating, stairs, wet concrete and RF dead zones are where inspection robots fail, and none of them show up in a spec sheet.
Security and patrol
What matters: autonomous patrol along a fixed route, operation in low light, remote video and two-way communication, docking for unattended recharge, and a clear operating policy for working around people. A robot dog does not replace a guard. It extends what one operator can watch.
| Model | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unitree Go2 X | $7,500.00 | Charging-pile compatible, with 4G and side-follow per Unitree's tier table |
| AGIBOT D1 Ultra | From $7,999.00 | IP54 industry-grade compact quadruped for inspection, security and emergency response, with a wheel-legged Ultra-W model |
| AGIBOT D1 MAX | $42,999.00 | IP67 wheel-legged platform with hot-swappable dual batteries |
| Unitree A2 | $31,800.00 | Larger industrial platform for longer outdoor routes |
Check local rules on recording video and audio in your patrol area, and on operating robots in public spaces, before you deploy.
Boston Dynamics Spot
Spot is the reference point in most enterprise evaluations. Its price depends on the configuration, so our Spot listing is quote-only. For how Spot compares with Unitree on price and capability, see Spot vs Go2 and the inspection comparison in the B2 guide.
Buying, leasing and support
Every robot above is listed in our quadruped store with current availability and delivery estimates. If you want to run a pilot before you buy, see leasing. For help matching a robot to a route, a course or a research plan, contact our team.