Chinese robot’s backflip is a leap forward for electric-powered humanoid machines and nation’s push to lead industry
- Robot news site describes manoeuvre as ‘a pinnacle of intricate posture control, touching on several demanding areas of technology’
- Developer Unitree says core motors controlling joints are proprietary designs boasting maximum joint torque twice that of international competitors
In the clip the robot, named H1, draws its arms back to build momentum then propels itself upwards, flips in mid-air and makes a smooth landing
Following a quick recalibration, it regains balance and resumes an upright stance.
H1 is made by Unitree, a start-up based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou. Unitree posted the video on its website on March 20.
“A backflip by an electrically powered humanoid robot represents a pinnacle of intricate posture control, touching on several demanding areas of technology,” a report on robotChina.com said.
“Key among these are the modelling of dynamics, the planning of movement, the design of real-time control systems and the development of hardware.”
Robot backflips are not a novel phenomenon. Boston Dynamics’ humanoid robot Atlas performed a similar feat from an elevated mat to the floor in 2017, showing advanced gait planning and balance.
However, the use of pure electric motors for propulsion sets Unitree’s H1 apart.
Compared with the hydraulic systems in Atlas, electric motors offer high control precision and clearer force feedback.
While hydraulic drives provide more robust power, they are generally heavier, more expensive, require high manufacturing precision, are difficult to maintain and are less suitable for commercialisation.
Atlas is 150cm (4 feet 11 inches) tall and weighs about 80kg (180lbs) whereas H1 stands nearly 180cm (about 5 feet 11 inches) tall, weighs around 47kg (about 104lbs) and is much slimmer than Atlas.
China sees rise of humanoid robots as ‘disruptive innovation’, economic boon
“H1 is capable of navigating uneven terrain. It is equipped with 3D LIDAR [light detection and ranging] and an Intel RealSense D435i depth camera to capture high-precision spatial data in real time,” according to Unitree’s official website.
Unitree said the H1 was China’s first full-sized, all-purpose humanoid robot capable of running, with all core components developed and produced in-house. The robot, which is priced under several hundred thousand Chinese yuan, is at iteration 4.0.
In its 3.0 versions, Unitree claimed world records for humanoid robot running speeds of 3.3 metres (10.8 feet) per second. Other achievements included the ability to withstand kicks without falling and carrying loads up to 30kg (about 66 pounds).
The core motors controlling its joints are proprietary designs, boasting a maximum joint torque of 360 newton-metres, twice that of international commercial competitors.
01:27
‘Robot-dancing’ waitress goes viral online
An expert, speaking anonymously, noted that while electric-driven robots offered powerful and high torque-to-weight ratio motor joints, further research was needed.
China is aggressively advancing in robotics, driven by government support and private enterprise innovation. This strategic focus has positioned China as a key player in global robotics, with developments such as the H1 robot highlighting its commitment to hi-tech leadership and its growing influence in the industry.
The future is AI and humanoid robots, China’s industry minister says
Humanoid robots like H1 have diverse applications across sectors such as disaster response, healthcare, manufacturing and entertainment.
They offer the potential for safer and more efficient human-robot collaboration, performing tasks in environmental hazards or situations that are unsuitable for humans and providing services that require humanlike interaction.
