Unitree H1 robot becomes the first humanoid to perform a backflip without hydraulics (video)
The Chinese company Unitree has once again become the center of attention in global technology, setting a new milestone in the development of humanoid robots. Its most recent development, the H1 bipedal robot, has now made history by becoming the first humanoid to perform a backflip without the aid of hydraulic systems. This significantly differs it from such famous predecessors as Boston Dynamics’ Atlas, where such tricks required the use of heavy and not always reliable hydraulics.
The main “feature” of the of the H1 is its use of specialized M107 articulated electric motors with a maximum torque of 360 Nm, which are also used in the B2 quadrupedal robot from the same company. The H1’s leg design provides three degrees of freedom at the hip and one at the knee and ankle, which, together with internally routed cables, ensures smooth lines and no snagging.
Achieving the backflip was made possible by the use of reinforcement learning simulation, which allowed H1 to master the skill almost perfectly, with a small corrective jump at the end.
This trick is undoubtedly impressive, but the practical application of H1 is not limited to entertainment. The robot already boasts a range of other skills, such as speed walking, stair climbing, jumping, and even dancing, making it a promising candidate for a variety of use cases.
Despite its relatively recent appearance in the field of humanoid development, the H1 is already estimated at $90 thousand. However, according to forecasts, it may take up to ten years for it to appear on the market. The robot has impressive dimensions – 1.8 meters high and weighing 47 kilograms, it can carry up to 30 kilograms of payload. His arms do not yet have human-like limbs, but they are actively working on it.
With a claimed speed of 3.3 m/s (7.4 mph) and an expected commercial speed of approximately 5 m/s, H1 promises to be a significant contribution to the world of humanoid robotics. It is equipped with an array of sensors, including 3D LiDAR and an Intel RealSense depth camera, for detailed environmental scanning. Although the specifications already include a replaceable 864Wh battery, the project is still in the early stages of development, which bodes well for even more innovation in the future.
