Leading Chinese robotics company Unitree has created news in the field of humanoid robots once again. The H1 bipedal robot, one of Unitree’s most recent creations, has achieved yet another incredible feat, breaking the previous record for world speed for humanoid robots. The H1 is now the first humanoid robot to backflip upright without the use of hydraulics.
Although Boston Dynamics’ Atlas and other humanoid robots have previously executed backflips, their performance is dependent on bulky and perhaps faulty hydraulic systems. On the other hand, Unitree’s H1 accomplishes this feat with just its own M107 electric joint motors, which have a peak torque of 360 Nm (265.5 lb.ft). These motors supply the power required for the H1’s amazing acrobatic show. They are also utilized in the company’s B2 quadruped.
The legs of the H1 can move in many different ways since they have three degrees of freedom at the hip, one at the knee, and one at the ankle. Furthermore, all wiring is internally routed to guarantee clear lines and avoid snags while in use.
One of the most important advances that Unitree has achieved in its history is the utilization of RL simulation for training the H1 to perform in-place flipping, and this work was effectively carried out, allowing H1 to produce almost faultless backflips. Although this particular capability does not have many practical uses or applications at present, the robot has also shown itself able to do other useful things, like walking at a high speed, going up and down stairs, jumping up from a standing position, and even dancing.
Despite the late entrance into the humanoid robot market, this year’s anticipated release is priced at an estimated $90,000 USD and expected to hit the market within the next decade. The H1 stands 1.8 meters (71 inches) tall and weighs 47 kg (104 lbs), allowing it to carry up to 30 kg (66 lbs) of payload. Unitree is focused on developing human-like hands to be used with the arms and continually improving this feature for its robots.
The impressive achievements made in the past and the continued development of Unitree H1 will establish this technology as a leading actor in human robotics, making it an indicator of robotic technology and its remarkable capacity.
