Venue Requirements for a Robot: Space, Floor, Power…

Before a supplier can promise that a robot will work in your venue, they need five things: how much clear space there is, what the floor is really like, where the power is, how the robot will connect, and how it gets from the loading bay to its spot. Most problems on the day trace back to one of these. Use this guide to collect the details, then pass them on with your request.

Space: footprint is not performance area

Manufacturer figures give a sense of scale:

Unitree G1: 1320 × 450 × 200 mm standing, 690 × 450 × 300 mm folded, about 35 kg (Unitree G1).
Unitree H1: about 1.80 m tall and about 47 kg; the H1-2 variant is listed at about 70 kg (Unitree H1).
Pepper: 1210 × 480 × 425 mm with arms down; with arms raised or spread it reaches up to 1355 mm high and about 1.2 m wide (Pepper).
NAO: 574 mm tall (NAO).
Unitree Go2 (robot dog): 70 × 31 × 40 cm standing, about 15 kg (Unitree Go2).

The space a robot needs to perform is much larger than its footprint. Allow for its movements, the operator's position and a clear zone around it. humanoid4rent's safety guidance suggests assuming a fall in the worst direction is possible and keeping that area free of people. Pepper's documentation asks for a flat surface with enough room to move around before it is switched on. Behind the scenes, add a lockable corner for cases, chargers and a laptop.

Floor: give the real finish

Legged robots are sensitive to what they walk on. humanoid4rent's safety guidance lists loose cable mats, deep carpet, polished stone, gratings and thresholds as typical problems, and asks hirers to describe the actual floor rather than the one on the plan.

Model-specific limits matter too. A distributor's G1 manual says the current walking mode does not support stairs, and that starting from a lying or squatting position is only suitable for flat, hard ground. Robot dogs cope better with level changes: Unitree lists the Go2 as climbing steps of about 15–16 cm and slopes of 30–40°, depending on version. Stages need ramps rather than steps and a clear margin from the edge. Tape down or cover every cable on the robot's path.

Power: where and when the robot charges

Robots charge between appearances, so plan a dedicated socket in a quiet place, not one shared with catering or lighting.

The G1's charger runs on 100–240 V AC at 50/60 Hz, and its battery is removed from the robot to charge.
Pepper's charger accepts 90–140 V or 180–265 V AC, its battery stores 795 Wh, and with the plug-in charger the battery charges only while the robot is switched off. The battery's rated charging temperature is 0 to 50 °C.
NAO's battery likewise charges only when the robot is off and plugged in.

Ask the supplier how many batteries they bring, how long each charge takes, and whether they need overnight access to charge for the next day. See battery life at events.

Wi-Fi and network

Not every robot needs the internet during an event, but most use a wireless link for control or content.

The G1 has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2; the Go2 has dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth.
Pepper supports 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi with WEP, WPA or WPA2 personal security, has an Ethernet port, and its documentation covers MAC address filtering for access points that require it.
Some setup tasks need internet access: Pepper's support documentation says a newly added language is not fully installed until the robot is rebooted and connected to the internet. Do that kind of task before the event day.

Exhibition halls and conference centres can have congested Wi-Fi and guest networks with login pages. Ask the supplier whether they bring their own router, whether a wired connection would help, and what happens if the network drops.

Access: from the kerb to the spot

humanoid4rent's safety guidance asks hirers to confirm lift dimensions and weight limits, door widths and any steps on the route. Add loading-bay times, parking for the supplier's van, security passes and the distance from the dock to the performance spot. The G1's transport case has wheels that its manual says are unsuitable outdoors, with a separate trolley recommended. Pepper, when switched off, has to be pushed by hand with great care – one hand on its shoulder, one on its hip. See transport, setup and teardown.

Environment: light, sound and temperature

Loud music makes speech interaction difficult (see speech, languages and noisy venues). Unitree's product pages for the G1 and H1 do not publish an operating temperature or a water-resistance rating, so ask the supplier for the manual figures if the robot will be near open doors, outdoors or under hot lights. See outdoor events and weather.

The venue checklist to send to suppliers

Floor plan with the robot's spot, the clear zone and the operator's position
Ceiling height and any overhead obstacles
Real floor finish, mats, thresholds, stage height and ramps
Socket location and circuit, and where charging can happen (including overnight)
Network: venue Wi-Fi details, a wired option, permission for the supplier's own router
Loading-bay times, parking, lift dimensions and weight limit, door widths, steps
Distance from the dock to the spot
Storage for cases during the event
Noise level, lighting and temperature at the spot
Venue house rules and the contact who signs off the risk assessment

Ready? Send a request with these details, so every supplier quotes against the same venue.

FAQ

How much space does a humanoid robot need at an event?

More than its footprint: a G1 is 450 mm wide, but you need room for its movements, an operator and a clear zone around it. Agree the area with the supplier based on the actual routine.

Can a robot walk on carpet?

It depends on the carpet and the robot. humanoid4rent's safety guidance lists deep carpet and loose cable mats among typical problem floors, so describe the exact finish and ask whether that model has run on it.

Does the robot need the venue's Wi-Fi?

Not necessarily – ask whether the supplier brings their own router. Some setup tasks need internet access, so get those done before the event day.

What power does a robot need?

For the robots covered here, a mains socket for the charger – the G1's charger takes 100–240 V AC – in a quiet place where batteries can charge between appearances. Confirm the plug type and circuit with the supplier.

Sources

How this guide was made: prepared with AI assistance; every factual statement was checked against the sources listed above on 12 October 2026. Spotted an error? Write to info@humanoid4rent.com.