Friday, March 29, 2024

China develops world’s largest quadruped bionic robot with off-road capabilities

China has developed the world’s largest electrically-powered quadruped bionic robot to assist the military on logistics and reconnaissance missions. This comes as the latest in China’s push to become a global leader in robotics by 2025 and also, of course, in military tech.

Walking on four legs and boasting a yak-like appearance, the robot is not only huge but powerful, smart, and surprisingly agile. It can move forward and backward and can perform a series of unexpected movements, such as jumping, running, turning, or walking diagonally.

This mechanical beast is strong enough to carry up to 350 pounds (160 kg) and can sprint at 6 mph (10 km/h). The robot is more than half the height of an adult when walking, and its length is about twice its height. Thanks to an unconscionable 12 sets of joint modules, it even sprints and dashes and jumps high without losing its footing.

The quadruped bionic robot is equipped with sensors to keep it in touch with the surrounding terrain and environment. It can also adapt to various types of terrains, including steps, trenches and cliffs, and even muddy roads, grasslands, deserts, and snowfields.

The robot is expected to join logistics delivery, and reconnaissance missions in complex environments that have proven too challenging for human soldiers, including remote border regions and highly risky combat zones, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

In addition to this mechanical yak, China has also developed a bionic mechanical dog called Geda. This machine dog is almost the size of a real one. Weighing 70 lbs (32 kg), it can carry a full load of 88 lbs (40 kg) of goods. Geda is programmed to understand simple voice commands and use facial recognition; it has also passed tests to traverse forests, rocky paths, narrow passages, and single-plank bridges, according to CCTV.

China is expected to continue to develop more types of bionic robots and use their advantages in combat application.