Caltech
Resembling a scene from an early Transformers movie, Caltech researchers have showcased how a humanoid robot and a drone can work together to achieve multiple modes of movement, opening fresh avenues for robotic locomotion.
“Robots can walk, drive, and fly,” says Caltech professor Aaron Ames. “The challenge is merging them into one system that keeps the strengths while minimizing the weaknesses.”
A Humanoid-Drone Hybrid
To tackle this, Ames and his team started with Unitree’s off-the-shelf G1 humanoid and mounted Caltech’s M4 robot onto its back, creating a hybrid system called X1. The M4 functions as a drone but can rotate its rotor guards to act as wheels, enabling it to both fly and roll on the ground.
In their demo, the humanoid walked outdoors, bent forward, and launched the M4 from its back. The M4 then landed, rolled along, and, upon reaching a turtle pond, took off again to fly over the obstacle. The full sequence can be seen in the video below.
Though the demo looks simple, Caltech researchers spent three years refining the merger—teaching the Unitree humanoid to navigate on its own and stay balanced while carrying the M4.
“The robot learns to walk based on the laws of physics,” Ames explains. “X1 can walk across different terrains, climb stairs, and, crucially, keep its balance while carrying M4.”
A Multidisciplinary Collaboration Behind X1
The project united Caltech’s CAST, which built the M4, the Ames Lab for locomotion and safety, and TII for sensing and autonomy.
“We’re focused on safety-critical control—ensuring these systems are trustworthy and secure,” Ames says. “This project is just one piece of our broader research into autonomy. By combining efforts across different areas, we can tackle much larger challenges and advance the field in a meaningful way.”
The video below shows more details on the collaboration behind X1.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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