Wheeled, rugged robot dog built for extreme industrial missions

Deep Robotics, a company from China, has unveiled a durable four-legged robot built to operate in extreme environments that humans struggle to traverse. 

It's called the Lynx M20, and it builds upon the agility of its predecessor, the Lynx robot dog.

This versatile machine is designed to handle anything from inspecting industrial sites and responding to disasters to carrying out logistics operations and supporting scientific research. Here's what you need to know.

The Lynx M20 combines wheels and legs to traverse challenging terrain. It can move at an average speed of 4.5 mph, but in optimal conditions, it can go up to 11 mph. It can also walk and climb obstacles using its independent wheel-locking mechanism. Its impressive traversal makes it able to cross rugged mountain paths, muddy wetlands and urban ruins.

The Lynx M20 is also great at navigation and monitoring, with its 96-line lidar system, which gives it 360-degree awareness. It also has a front-facing wide-angle camera capable of livestreaming and bidirectional lighting for venturing into dark environments.

Thanks to reinforcement learning, the Lynx M20 can actually improve its performance over time, learning from experience so that it gets even better at tackling new or unexpected obstacles. This means it's not just following a set of pre-programmed instructions but is actively making decisions and getting smarter with every mission.

The robot's dual 96-line lidar sensors and wide-angle cameras feed data into its onboard processors, enabling real-time mapping, omnidirectional obstacle avoidance and autonomous navigation, even in low visibility or completely dark environments.

The Lynx M20 features IP66 water and dust resistance and operates in temperatures from minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. This toughness makes it suitable for harsh weather conditions. Weighing 72.8 pounds, it can carry up to a 33-pound payload, climb 31.5-inch obstacles and navigate 45-degree inclines. The robot runs for 2.5 to 3 hours per charge with a hot-swap battery system to keep it going longer.

The Lynx M20 also has a Pro version, which includes autonomous charging, SLAM-based positioning and advanced navigation tools. It has more connectivity options, like USB and Gigabit Ethernet, to enhance its functionality.

The price of the Lynx M20 is unknown as Deep Robotics has yet to reveal the details. However, its standard Lynx robodog is estimated to cost around $18,000, meaning this could cost more.

If you work in industries like construction, energy, logistics or emergency response, the Lynx M20 could be a game changer. Its ability to handle rough terrain, carry heavy loads and operate in extreme weather means you can send it into places that are risky or even impossible for people to reach.

Whether it is inspecting power lines after a storm, delivering supplies across a muddy worksite or helping out in disaster zones, this robot is designed to keep your team safer and your operations running smoothly. Its hot-swap battery system also means less downtime, so you can rely on it for long shifts without constant recharging interruptions.

We don't know the exact price yet, but judging by what it offers, it's clearly designed for serious work. If you're dealing with challenging environments and need a reliable helper, this robot might just be the partner you've been waiting for.

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