This robot-drone duo can go anywhere, even on your back
Caltech and the Technology Innovation Institute just introduced X1—a first-of-its-kind combo of a walking humanoid robot and a transforming drone.
Designed for unpredictable situations, X1 can quickly adapt to unpredictable situations, and the team aims for it to eventually work without human help, thanks to three years of teamwork in AI and robotics.
X1 is a combination of a walking humanoid and a drone
X1 pairs a Unitree G1 humanoid with Caltech's M4 drone.
The G1 carries the M4 across rough ground, then lets it loose—where the drone can either fly or roll on four wheels.
It uses lidar, cameras, and rangefinders to navigate and avoid obstacles—no motion-capture suits needed.
The goal is to have fully autonomous search-and-rescue missions
In tests, the robot walked over uneven ground with the drone onboard, then released it to fly past barriers, with both robots sending real-time data to human operators.
The goal: fully autonomous search-and-rescue missions where versatility could save lives.
For anyone into robotics or emergency tech, this is a big leap forward.