Chinese robotics company Deep Robotics has debuted a new rugged high-speed quadruped robot that can jump, climb and back-flip its way across difficult terrain with ease.
The four-legged Lynx robot is different from its predecessors in that it gets about on all-terrain wheels rather than solid feet, looking like its construction is partially inspired by quad bikes as much as traditional robotic mechanisms.
The Deep Robotics video shows the Lynx bot traveling at speed in a woodland setting, navigating its way uphill and downhill at 50 degree inclines, as well as over large obstacles from rocks to low walls. The robot can easily switch from standing on four feet to two feet, even back-flipping and taking sharp turns at speed.
Deep Robotics, established in 2017 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, has emerged as a major player in the development of quadrupedal robots or "robot dogs," particularly for industrial use.
The company's flagship product line, which includes the X20 and X30 models, has been used across various sectors, including security inspection, exploration and public rescue operations.
A trial carried out in 2023 demonstrated the X20's ability to carry out search and inspection tasks on rough terrain like the aftermath of an earthquake. In simulated emergency search scenarios, the four-legged robots were able to rescue people and retrieve inflammable and explosive items.
The robots can work alone and also carry out coordinated searches to quickly cover a designated area, using a combination of high-resolution panoramic cameras and LiDAR to navigate.
"Teams working on emergency searches or for site exploration commonly face challenges such as insufficient site data and risks to their personal safety. That's where these robots can provide valuable assistance," said Wei Tang, head of algorithm engineering at Deep Robotics at the time of the trial.
"The robots share the simplest and most useful information, which can reduce bandwidth communication costs while improving functionality, leading to better outcomes," he added.
Redditors on the r/singularity subreddit were impressed and intimidated in equal parts by the new Lynx robot's abilities, with one user commenting: "Imagine several of these reaching someone injured on a mountain in dire need of supplies and first aid."
Another said: "This robot is literally the perfect child of a Terminator and the killer bot from Black Mirror's 'Metalhead'."
Deep Robotics is positioning itself as China's answer to Elon Musk's Tesla Optimus, unveiling more than two dozen of its new humanoid robots at an industry expo in Beijing in August.
Dr.01, its first humanoid robot, is designed for both home and industrial settings. It has lightweight, high powered joints for flexible movement and autonomous learning capabilities.
The robot was demonstrated climbing stairs, walking over obstacles including steel bars, and keeping its balance when pushed or pulled by humans.
Deep Robotics clients and partners include Lenovo, Takenaka Corporation, University College London and the University of Edinburgh. In August 2024 the robotics company raised a second round of Series B funding for an undisclosed amount.
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