A Chinese company has unveiled the world’s first robot dog to feature the precise motor control required to carry a person safely across the most rugged terrain, making it suitable for a range of military and civilian uses, according to online commenters.
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B2-W, a four-legged, wheeled robot that features precision posture control and advanced acrobatics, was showcased in a video posted by developer Unitree to its social media account on Monday.
In the video, B2-W performs mid-air flips, rotations and handstands while also demonstrating remarkable stability as it descends a nearly 60-degree gravel slope, navigates streams, climbs waterfalls and speeds across a range of terrains.
The robot is also shown temporarily retracting its hind legs, performing inverted landings, and jumping from a height of 1.9 metres (6.23ft). In standard four-legged mode, it can leap from 3 metres, absorbing the impact with its flexible legs.
In one test featured in the Hangzhou-based company’s video, the B2-W shows off its load-bearing and balancing abilities by carrying an adult rider up and down slopes with ease.
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“Unitree’s B2 series robot is currently the world’s first and only robot dog designed for riding. It showcases extraordinary biomimetic performance,” said Xiaolan, a robotics reviewer, after a hands-on testing of the B2-W.