Humanoid Robot Accessories UK: What Is Available and Where to Find It

Published 20 September 2026 by Humanoid Robot Shop

This guide contains referral links. If you proceed to a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Our editorial positions are independent.

Most coverage of humanoid robots focuses on the headline hardware. But for buyers and owners who have acquired a platform, the questions quickly shift: what accessories are available, what do they cost, and where do you actually buy them in the UK? This guide provides an honest answer for 2026, which is: the market is thin but forming, and the picture will improve significantly as installed bases grow.

Prices and availability change as this market develops. Information here is as known at the date of publication. Verify directly with suppliers before purchasing.

What exists today

Accessory categories for humanoid robots in the UK

Developer compute accessories

For platforms like the Unitree G1, which runs on ROS 2 and requires external compute for demanding applications, the most practically useful accessories are computing hardware. UK buyers can source compute accessories through standard UK electronics retailers and specialist robotics suppliers. Relevant categories include:

NVIDIA Jetson modules (Orin, Nano) for edge inference on the platform. These are stocked by UK electronics distributors including RS Components, Mouser and Farnell. Prices vary; verify current UK pricing directly with distributors.
High-performance GPU workstations for simulation, training and testing away from the robot. Standard UK IT supplier market applies.
Networking hardware: industrial-grade routers and switches for reliable wireless communication with the robot in a lab or workshop environment. Widely available from UK IT suppliers.
Industrial USB hubs and interface cables for connecting external sensors and peripherals to the robot's onboard systems.

These items are not humanoid-robot-specific; they are general computing and electronics components that happen to be useful in a humanoid robotics development context. UK pricing from standard electronics distributors applies, with no import premium above standard UK retail.

Sensors and perception hardware

Research and development applications often require adding sensors to a platform beyond its standard configuration. Relevant sensor categories for humanoid robotics developers in the UK include:

Depth cameras such as the Intel RealSense series or similar structured-light or time-of-flight cameras, used for environment perception and object recognition. Available from UK electronics distributors. Prices vary by model; verify current UK availability before specifying.
LiDAR sensors for detailed environment mapping. Costs range widely from development-grade modules to full survey-grade systems. UK distributors for robotics-grade LiDAR include specialist robotics suppliers and electronics distributors. Some units require import from Asia; apply the same customs and VAT calculation as for the main platform.
Force-torque sensors for end-effector feedback in manipulation tasks. Several UK-compatible options exist from manufacturers including ATI Industrial Automation and similar. UK distributors should be verified directly for current availability.
IMUs (inertial measurement units) and additional motion sensing. These are widely available through UK electronics distribution channels.

End effectors and manipulation accessories

For platforms with configurable end effectors, alternative gripper and hand configurations are increasingly available. Unitree publishes options for the G1's hand configuration. Third-party end effectors for humanoid platforms are an emerging category with limited off-the-shelf availability in the UK today; custom fabrication or direct import from specialist suppliers is typically required.

UK robotics system integrators may be able to source or fabricate custom end effectors for specific task requirements. This is a bespoke procurement exercise, not a standard retail purchase.

Safety and operational accessories

Operating a walking bipedal robot safely requires investing in the working environment, not just the robot. UK-applicable safety accessories include:

Gantry and tether systems for early-stage testing: a mechanical overhead tether prevents the robot falling and causing damage or injury during the initial commissioning and testing phase. These are fabricated or sourced from industrial safety equipment suppliers; no specific humanoid-robot-branded product is needed.
Anti-static and padded floor mats for the robot's operating area, reducing damage risk from falls and protecting hard flooring from wear.
Protective covers and transport cases for the robot and its components, for moving between sites or storing when not in use. Custom-fabricated or made-to-measure road cases from UK case manufacturers are the practical option at this stage; no standard off-the-shelf humanoid robot transport case from a UK retailer exists for most platforms.
Emergency stop systems and safety interlocks integrated with the robot's control systems. UK industrial safety suppliers provide the components; integration requires engineering competence.

Power and charging accessories

Most humanoid platforms operate from internal batteries that require periodic charging. Relevant accessories:

Spare battery packs: Unitree sells spare battery packs for its platforms through its own channels. UK buyers should source through UK resellers where available, as direct import adds customs and VAT on top of the unit cost. Confirm current availability and UK pricing with any UK Unitree reseller you engage with.
UK-compatible charging equipment: most manufacturer-supplied chargers accept the UK mains voltage range, but confirm this before purchase. A UK mains adapter or inline adaptor may be needed for units supplied with non-UK plug types.
Uninterruptible power supplies for lab environments where consistent charging is critical. Standard UK UPS suppliers apply.

Developer tools and software accessories

Strictly speaking these are not hardware accessories, but for practical purposes UK humanoid robot developers often ask about them in the same breath as physical accessories:

Simulation environments: Unitree provides simulation support for its platforms in standard robotics simulation tools. Nvidia Isaac Sim and Gazebo are the most widely used environments in the research community. These are software tools, not UK physical retail items.
Developer documentation and training: Unitree's SDK documentation is available online. For university programmes and research teams, supplementary resources through the ROS 2 community, IEEE publications and specialist courses are the main supplementary resource channels.
Vision processing systems: for applications requiring high-throughput visual processing, external vision computers such as Nvidia Jetson Orin development kits are widely used and available through UK distributors.

Where to source them

UK sources for humanoid robot accessories

Direct from manufacturers and their UK channels

For platform-specific accessories (batteries, official end effectors, spare parts), the manufacturer is the authoritative source. Unitree sells accessories through its own channels and, where available, through UK resellers. Using a UK reseller for accessories simplifies the import and warranty process considerably; it is worth asking any reseller you engage with about their accessories and spares supply capability alongside the main platform purchase.

UK electronics distributors

For general-purpose developer components (compute modules, sensors, cables, connectors), standard UK electronics distributors stock most items. RS Components, Farnell, Mouser and similar carry the broad range of robotics development hardware. These sources offer UK-priced stock, UK VAT invoicing, and standard UK delivery, which simplifies the procurement process compared to direct import.

UK robotics specialist suppliers

A small number of UK-based robotics system integrators and specialist suppliers stock or can source more specialised robotics components. These are worth identifying and building a supplier relationship with when you are planning a deployment, as they can often advise on compatibility and sourcing lead times from experience. Ask your UK reseller or any UK robotics integrator you engage with for their recommended component suppliers.

Direct import from Asia

For accessories not stocked in the UK, direct import from Chinese or other Asian suppliers is an option. The same customs, duty and VAT process applies as for the main platform; see our UK import guide for detail. For small-value accessories where the duty and VAT administration overhead is disproportionate to the item cost, sourcing from UK stock is almost always preferable.

What is coming

The accessories market outlook

The accessories market for humanoid robots will grow substantially as installed bases increase. The most significant near-term development is likely to be a broader range of end effectors and manipulation accessories as manufacturers and third parties respond to common development requirements. Battery and power management accessories will improve as the hardware matures. Safety equipment standards specific to bipedal robots in workplace environments are expected to develop through UK and international standards bodies.

For UK buyers purchasing a platform today, the honest picture is that the accessories ecosystem is thin relative to what it will be in two to three years. Build this expectation into your deployment planning: some things you need may not exist as off-the-shelf products yet, and will require custom fabrication or direct import.

We will update this guide as the UK accessories market develops. If you know of a UK-available accessory or supplier that should be listed here, let us know.

Common questions

Questions about humanoid robot accessories in the UK

What accessories are available for the Unitree G1 in the UK?

Unitree sells spare battery packs and accessories through its own channels; UK resellers may stock or be able to source these, which avoids a separate import process. General-purpose developer components such as NVIDIA Jetson modules, depth cameras, LiDAR sensors and computing hardware are available from UK electronics distributors including RS Components, Farnell and Mouser. Platform-specific third-party accessories such as alternative end effectors are limited in off-the-shelf UK availability and may require direct import or custom fabrication.

Where can I buy spare batteries for my humanoid robot in the UK?

For Unitree platforms, spare batteries are available through Unitree's own channels. Where a UK reseller has an established relationship with Unitree, they may be able to supply spares alongside the main platform purchase, which avoids a separate import process with additional customs and VAT costs. For other platforms, contact the manufacturer directly about spare parts supply for UK deployments.

Do humanoid robot accessories imported from China attract UK customs duty?

Yes. The same import duty and VAT rules apply to accessories as to the main robot platform. Goods imported from China are subject to UK import duty at the applicable tariff rate plus UK VAT at 20% on the landed value. For low-value accessories where the customs administration overhead is disproportionate to the cost, sourcing from UK stock through a UK distributor is almost always preferable.

Related guides

Humanoid robot accessories UK: what is available and where to find it