The video you’ll watch three times: this humanoid robot can walk, fly, and roll
Meet X1, an extraordinary hybrid robot created by researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). It merges a humanoid form, a flying drone, and a rolling vehicle into one seamless machine. This versatile robot seems to have stepped straight out of a science fiction movie.
The fusion of two machines
X1 is the result of combining two advanced technologies: the Chinese-made Unitree G1 humanoid robot and Caltech’s own M4 drone. Together, they form a synchronized system that can walk, fly, and roll with remarkable precision.
How the transformation works
The M4 drone is far from ordinary. When it lands, it repositions its arms and repurposes its circular propeller guards as wheels, turning itself into a compact rolling vehicle. Attached to the G1 humanoid, it appears like a flying robot with wings folded on its back.
The humanoid base functions as the carrier and operator. It can walk on two legs, climb stairs, and even open doors. When it arrives at an open area, the G1 leans forward to create a launch platform, allowing the drone to take off smoothly.
Versatility and coordination
The M4 drone can either fly autonomously or land and continue its journey on wheels across the ground. The Caltech research team spent three years perfecting the integration of all these movement modes into one unified entity. This complexity enables X1 to traverse both air and land, offering exceptional mobility and adaptability — though it cannot operate underwater.
“X1 blurs the boundaries between humanoid, drone, and vehicle.” — Caltech Robotics Team
Summary
X1 is a groundbreaking hybrid robot from Caltech that walks, flies, and rolls — uniting drone agility with humanoid dexterity to redefine robotic movement.