China's humanoid robot handles rough terrain with human-like motion

Chinese robotics company LimX Dynamics has introduced significant advancements in its full-size humanoid robot, Oli, demonstrating impressive human-like mobility across challenging terrains such as loose sand, rocks, unstable boards, and debris. Equipped with 31 finely tuned joints and a sophisticated perception system—including depth cameras and a motion-tracking unit—Oli continuously processes environmental data to maintain balance and adapt its movements in real time. During tests, the robot successfully compensated for shifting surfaces and obstacles, adjusting its gait dynamically to stay upright and stable without hesitation. Additional capabilities like object pickup and full-body stretching suggest practical applications in navigating cluttered or uneven environments and performing complex tasks. Oli, standing 165 centimeters tall and weighing 55 kilograms, features 31 degrees of freedom that enable fine motor skills through interchangeable end-effectors. Its modular design supports rapid disassembly and component swapping, facilitating accelerated research and development. The robot’s mobility is powered by high-fidelity sensors—including a 6-axis IMU, Intel RealSense depth