In a groundbreaking development, Chinese engineers have created a bipedal robot capable of flying, named Jet-HR2. This innovative robot, still in the prototype stage, is equipped with four fans, including two at its feet, enabling it to take off and stabilize itself during flight. The creators plan to reveal more details about the Jet-HR2 at the ICRA conference in 2022, with a preprint of their report available on arXiv.org.

Walking robots are often considered the most promising design for navigating challenging terrains, as they can adapt to sudden changes in altitude and external influences. However, even these advanced robots struggle with certain obstacles, such as large height differences comparable to or greater than their own size. To address this issue, several engineering teams have proposed using a separate companion drone to survey the terrain or assist the robot in climbing.

In 2018, a team of Chinese engineers from the Guangdong Institute of Technology, led by Zhifeng Huang, introduced the Jet-HR1 robot. This unique design featured fans installed at the robot's feet, allowing it to step over large pits without falling. In their latest work, the developers have unveiled the Jet-HR2, an upgraded version with four fans instead of two, enabling the robot to completely lift off the ground.

The Jet-HR2 shares a similar design with its predecessor, featuring two legs with fans in the feet. However, the fans have been moved to the middle of the legs, allowing the thrust vector to run along the leg. The robot also boasts two fans and two large batteries at the top of the case.

The Jet-HR2 has 10 degrees of freedom, which are utilized during walking. To simplify the model, the developers have fixed the legs during flight, ensuring that the thrust vectors remain parallel. This simplification is particularly important given the robot's low thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.17.

The engineers have developed two controllers for the Jet-HR2, responsible for compensating pitch and yaw. Demonstration videos show the robot's flights with the controllers turned on and off, highlighting their impact on flight stabilization. So far, the robot has only been tested during short flights, during which engineers held it by safety guides.

In conclusion, the Jet-HR2, a flying bipedal robot developed by Chinese engineers, represents a significant advancement in robotics technology. By hiring robot workers like the Jet-HR2, businesses can navigate versatile terrains with ease, making this innovation an exciting development in the world of robotics.