China’s robot dog gets one-touch navigation feature for rescue in tough terrains

China's leading developer of quadrupedal robotics has unveiled a brand new one-touch navigation feature integrated into its robotic dog, marking a significant advancement in the development of user-friendly robotics.

Designed to enhance the intelligent control of the four-legged robot dog by streamlining user interaction and boosting autonomous movement, the upgrade is well-suited for complex real-world environments.

The company, headquartered in Hangzhou, in China's eastern coastal province of Zhejiang, made headlines last year with the debut of its latest robot dog, Lynx - a dynamic machine capable of gliding across ice, powering through deep snow, and performing impressive leaps and flips.

However, in a recent video, the company once again highlighted its advanced tech game by introducing one of its models' innovative features which enables real-time perception

in unfamiliar environments. This advancement not only enhances the robot's agility and spatial awareness, but also allows the four-legged machine to navigate without prior mapping and adapt more effectively to dynamic or unstructured surroundings.

A closer look at the upgrade

The feature offers two distinct modes tailored to different environments. One is a map-based point selection and navigation mode, ideal for open terrains where broader spatial awareness is required.

Meanwhile, the second is a video-based point navigation mode, specifically designed for navigating confined or cluttered spaces with greater precision. According to the firm, operators can simply select a location within the video feed and direct the robotic dog to the desired destination.

"Chinese technology, particularly in smart maintenance and automation, is leading the way globally," Hank Cheng, Deep Robotics senior sales manager, states. "This gives us a competitive edge in the markets that are in pursuit of advanced solutions."

"By simply typing on a tablet screen or selecting a point in the video feed, the robotic dog can autonomously navigate to the target point, automatically planning its path and intelligently avoiding obstacles, significantly improving traversal efficiency," the company says.

A step toward smarter, faster robotics

The company explains that the advancement is expected to significantly enhance the overall performance and operational efficiency of the robotic dog. It notes that the technology will be particularly valuable in high-risk scenarios such as fire reconnaissance and emergency rescue operations - situations where speed, precision, and autonomous decision-making are of great importance.

"One-touch navigation enables real-time perception in unknown environments without the need for prior mapping, freeing up operators and enhancing the robotic dog's ability to escape and overcome obstacles in complex environments," Deep Robotics emphasizes.

Particularly effective at navigating unstable terrain and operating in extreme conditions, quadruped robots have proven invaluable in post-disaster search and rescue efforts due to their ability to move across rubble, slip through narrow gaps, and reach areas inaccessible to wheeled machines.

"Localization is essential for international success," Cheng concludes. "Our products have already demonstrated their value in China, and we're confident they will become benchmarks globally."