Robotics
Joint torque
Joint torque is the rotational force a motor can apply to a joint, expressed in newton-metres (N·m). On a bipedal robot, it determines the ability to support the machine's weight, absorb a loss of balance and perform dynamic movements.
Updated on 12 October 2026 · Libella Robotics · Also known as: motor torque, torque, N·m
High torque allows fast gestures and a firm recovery of balance; low torque gives a slow machine that falls at the slightest external push. The Unitree G1 reaches up to 120 N·m on its most heavily loaded joints: the hips and knees, which carry most of the load when walking.
This figure has a safety corollary: a joint capable of 120 N·m can injure. It is one of the reasons why a bipedal humanoid at an event remains supervised by an operator and moves within a controlled area, never freely accessible in the middle of a dense crowd.
Key facts
| Unit | Newton-metre (N·m) |
|---|---|
| Unitree G1 | up to 120 N·m |
| Implication | Power = a supervised safety perimeter |