While having four legs with wheels might seem quite functional for a robot, China's LimX Dynamics is pushing boundaries. Their W1 quadruped robot has advanced to the point where it can now stand up and walk on two "feet."

Just last October marked our initial introduction to the W1, evidently drawing inspiration from ETH-Zurich's Swiss-Mile Robot design. Similar to its counterpart, the W1 features four legs, each equipped with a powered wheel at its extremity.[1]

Figure 1. The W1 quadruped robot can now stand, walk and roll on its hind legs.

Figure 1 shows the W1 quadruped robot can now stand, walk and roll on its hind legs. When navigating smooth surfaces like roads, sidewalks, or floors, the W1 smoothly rolls along on its wheels, maximizing both speed and energy efficiency. However, when faced with obstacles, rough terrain, or the need to ascend or descend stairs, it halts and immobilizes its wheels. It then transforms them into feet, adopting a quadruped walking motion.

What previously distinguished the Swiss-Mile from the W1 was its ability to assume a humanoid form for specific tasks, like handing or receiving packages, by standing up and either walking or rolling on its hind legs. Now, the W1 boasts this capability as well.

While specific technical specifications are currently limited, it's worth noting that when in rolling mode, the upright robot possesses the ability to rotate 360 degrees on the spot, execute 90-degree turns, manoeuvre through obstacles like shelving units, and withstand collisions without toppling over.[2]

Additionally, the transition from quadruped to biped mode occurs in under one second, reaching a full upright stance at a height of 152 cm (59.8 inches).

In a recently unveiled video, LimX exclusively showcases the W1 walking on two feet across a seamless floor. This prompts questions about its bipedal stair-climbing abilities, akin to the company's CL-1 humanoid robot, or if it necessitates reverting to all fours for such tasks. Additionally, clarity on whether the robot can execute actions like grasping items with its front legs while standing, mirroring the capabilities of the Swiss-Mile bot, would be beneficial.

Reference:

1. https://newatlas.com/robotics/limx-w1-quadruped-robot-stands-walks/
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1g5kk2qD4E&t=48s

Cite this article:

Gokila G (2024), Watch Robo Erectus: Evolution of W1 Quadruped Robot into Upright Walker, AnaTechMaz , pp .27