Forget your average robot dog, this thing is a beast!

For years, CGTN Digital has been watching the same few moves of robot dogs at various events. But we have never seen one move like this!

In a video released by Unitree, a civilian robotics company based in east China's Hangzhou City, the company's B2-W robot dog performed moves like Thomas flairs with swift and powerful motions.

Unitree said on its website that the B2-W can run at a top speed of 20 kilometers per hour and as far as 50 kilometers. That's longer than a marathon!

Watch the video to see how swiftly it moves!

Robot dog on wheels

The B2-W robot dog sports a special feature: wheels on all four legs. While Unitree's previous designs echoed the style of Boston Dynamics, they've taken a hard left turn into innovation. Unlike Boston Dynamics, who haven't heavily explored wheeled locomotion, Unitree has combined cutting-edge sensors, powerful motors and some carefully calibrated software to achieve the moves we haven't seen before.

China's massive infrastructure boom in recent years has created a huge demand for robots in inspection and maintenance. This demand has fueled the growth of domestic robotics companies, which in turn has supercharged the development of supporting industries like sensors and motors. With this powerful ecosystem in place, it's no surprise that we're seeing incredible creations like the B2-W emerge.

Heated debate

The video of this robot dog has exploded online, sparking a heated debate in the comments.

Some viewers are skeptical, claiming it's CGI or AI-generated, while others pointed out that Unitree has been selling other robot dog models for quite some time, proving their real-world capabilities.

There's also the inevitable "copycat" accusation aimed at Boston Dynamics. But just as quickly, other comments counter that B2-W's performance clearly surpasses anything similar Boston Dynamics has shown.

The discussion also turns to the robot's potential applications. Some see limited practical value, while others argue that such advanced capabilities will inevitably find a market. There are even concerns about the potential for weaponization by malicious actors – a common concern with advanced robotics.

Amidst the debate, many comments are praising China's capacity for innovation. They argue that while many groundbreaking inventions originate elsewhere, China excels at finding the best real-world applications and leveraging its powerful manufacturing base to rapidly scale production and bring these technologies to the masses.