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ChinaScience

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

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Unitree says its H1 robot, which is now at iteration 4.0, is China’s first full-sized, all-purpose humanoid robot capable of doing backflips and running. Photo: Handout
Zhang Tongin Beijing
A Chinese company has unveiled a video featuring a humanoid robot performing a backflip to land on the same spot, marking a world-first manoeuvre for a full-sized electric-powered robot.
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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

H1 builds to the backflip in Unitree’s video. Photo: Handout
H1 builds to the backflip in Unitree’s video. Photo: Handout
In full flight. Photo: Unitree
In full flight. Photo: Unitree

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.

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“Key among these are the modelling of dynamics, the planning of movement, the design of real-time control systems and the development of hardware.”

Unitree says H1 can run as well as flip. Photo: Unitree
Unitree says H1 can run as well as flip. Photo: Unitree
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