China’s latest robot dog performs flips, handstands, tough climbs

China’s robotic startup MagicLab has unveiled the MagicDog-W, a wheel-legged quadruped robot that combines wheels and legs to achieve high mobility and agility. Equipped with 17 motors driving each joint and wheel, the robot can perform dynamic stunts such as flips and handstands while navigating challenging terrains including slopes steeper than 40 degrees, stairs, and vertical obstacles up to 60 cm. It can carry a payload of up to 10 kg (22 lbs) and reach speeds of 3 meters per second (6.71 mph), with an operational runtime of 2 to 4 hours per charge. The MagicDog-W’s advanced motor control system allows it to adapt its posture dynamically in response to terrain changes, enabling stable movement on rough and unstructured surfaces. Its combination of speed, endurance, and payload capacity makes it suitable for practical applications such as industrial inspection, search and rescue, exploration, and military logistics. While pricing has not been disclosed, the robot’s innovative wheel-leg