LibreAI / Dev Tools / unitree_sdk2
// devtools · unitreerobotics/unitree_sdk2

unitree_sdk2

Unitree's official C++ SDK v2 for programming its robots, with CMake examples and installable library.

★ 1.4k stars⑂ 393 forksBSD-3-Clauseupdated 2026-09
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts

Project facts

unitree_sdk2 is an open-source dev tools project by unitreerobotics (unitreerobotics/unitree_sdk2 on GitHub). It has 1,392 GitHub stars and 393 forks, is released under the BSD-3-Clause license, and was last updated on GitHub on 21 September 2026.

GitHub stars
1,392
Forks
393
License
BSD-3-Clause
Last updated on GitHub
21 September 2026
Category
Dev Tools
Listing
Full install guide
// how it works

How it works

  1. Clarify your goal

    Confirm you have a supported setup: Ubuntu 20.04, a compatible CPU architecture, and access to a Unitree robot or its network.

  2. Get the project

    Clone the repository and install the documented build dependencies with apt.

  3. Install and configure

    Build the bundled examples with CMake and Make to verify the toolchain works.

  4. Run your first task

    Install the SDK to the system or a custom prefix, then import it into your own CMake project following the included sample.

// features

Why people love it

Official robot SDK libraries

The supported C++ interface for building applications on Unitree robots, maintained by the manufacturer.

Bundled examples

Example programs in the repository demonstrate SDK usage and can be built together with CMake.

Flexible installation prefixes

Install to the system directory or a custom location such as /opt/unitree_robotics, with find_package integration for your own projects.

Documented dependency set

A single apt command installs the required CMake, compiler, and library dependencies on Ubuntu 20.04.

CMake sample for consumers

An example/cmake_sample project shows exactly how to import the installed SDK into an external application.

Document Center reference

The README directs developers to Unitree's official documentation centre for deeper API reference.

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// run it

Run it yourself

  1. Clone the SDK

    Get the source and examples locally.

    git clone https://github.com/unitreerobotics/unitree_sdk2.git
    cd unitree_sdk2
  2. Install dependencies and build the examples

    Install the documented packages, then configure and build.

    apt-get update && apt-get install -y cmake g++ build-essential libyaml-cpp-dev libeigen3-dev libboost-all-dev libfmt-dev
    mkdir build && cd build && cmake .. && make
  3. Install the library for your own project

    Install to the default prefix used by Unitree's samples.

    cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/opt/unitree_robotics
    sudo make install
// use cases

What you can build

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// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains it?

It is maintained by Unitree Robotics, the robot manufacturer.

Is it free to use?

Yes, it is BSD-3-Clause licensed and free to use with attribution; the robots themselves are commercial hardware.

Does it need a paid API key?

No API key is needed; the SDK runs locally and talks to your robot over your own network.

How does it compare to a well-known alternative?

Third-party Python wrappers trade performance and official support for convenience; this is the manufacturer's own C++ SDK that those wrappers typically build on.

How do I get started?

Clone the repo, install the listed apt dependencies, build the examples with cmake and make, then install the SDK and copy the cmake_sample pattern.

// keep exploring

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