Video: Chinese robot dog battles red sand and steep slopes in extreme desert adventure

DEEP Robotics has released footage showing its Lynx wheel-legged robot series navigating harsh desert terrain, highlighting its ability to operate across challenging environments. The demonstration focuses on the robot’s off-road mobility as it tackles uneven and demanding landscapes that can pose difficulties for conventional wheeled machines. Developed by Hangzhou-based DEEP Robotics, the Lynx series is designed for industrial applications where robots may need to operate in hazardous or inaccessible areas. The latest footage underscores the company’s push to develop versatile robotic systems capable of handling complex terrain for industrial, exploration, and emergency operations. Lynx masters terrain DEEP Robotics has released new footage showing its Lynx wheel-legged robot navigating a harsh red desert terrain, highlighting the machine’s ability to operate across loose sand, steep slopes, and uneven ground. The footage features the Lynx M20 series, an industrial-grade wheel-legged robot designed for applications in hazardous and difficult-to-access environments. Unlike conventional quadruped robots that rely entirely on legs, the Lynx combines wheels and articulated legs to provide different forms of mobility depending on the terrain. The demonstration, titled “Conquering the Red Desert,” features the company’s industrial quadruped tackling conditions that can be difficult for conventional wheeled robots. In the video, the robot travels across sandy and uneven surfaces while negotiating changes in elevation and ground conditions. Its hybrid mobility system allows it to roll across relatively smooth sections while using its articulated legs to adapt to more difficult terrain. This approach is intended to combine the efficiency and speed of wheeled movement with the obstacle-clearing capabilities associated with legged robots. The demonstration also highlights the Lynx platform’s ability to maintain mobility in dusty, high-temperature environments. DEEP says the system is designed to withstand temperatures as high as 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit), a capability that could be relevant for industrial operations in some of the world’s harshest environments. The company is positioning the Lynx M20 series for tasks where sending people into the field can present significant safety challenges. Potential applications include inspections at power facilities, emergency response, firefighting, search and rescue, and scientific exploration. Robot braves extremes Desert operations are only one part of the platform’s reported testing. DEEP has also demonstrated the Lynx in extreme cold, with tests reaching temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit). The robot has additionally been shown crossing icy waterways with depths of up to 80 centimeters, underscoring the company’s focus on developing machines capable of operating across widely varying environments. The Lynx’s wheel-legged configuration is central to this strategy. Wheels can provide faster and more energy-efficient movement on suitable surfaces, while the legs can help the robot adjust its body position and negotiate obstacles when rolling alone becomes impractical. This gives the platform greater flexibility when operating across terrain that can change rapidly over short distances. DEEP Robotics describes the Lynx M20 series as the world’s first industrial-grade wheeled-legged robot built specifically for challenging terrain and hazardous industrial environments. The company’s approach reflects a wider effort within the robotics industry to develop machines capable of performing inspection, response, and exploration tasks without requiring humans to directly enter dangerous areas. The Lynx series is commercially available for industrial customers, with prices starting at around $17,999. With its latest desert demonstration, DEEP Robotics is continuing to emphasize real-world deployment as it seeks to establish wheel-legged robots as practical tools for demanding field operations.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.