China unveils robot dog that can dance ballet, walk on the moon

According to the Daily Mail (UK), CyberDog 2 has some similar features to a Doberman service dog, with very cute ears. This four-legged robot is also much lighter than the first version – weighing 8.9 kg, while CyberDog weighs 14 kg.

Xiaomi engineers say the new version of the robot dog is 40% smaller than the previously invented robot. The CyberDog2 robot is about 35cm tall and has the ability to balance itself automatically so it can maintain good balance without falling.

Engineers have improved the robot's mobility and ability to perform a range of impressive moves - like somersaults, ballet, and butt wiggles. The new robot can also skateboard and even walk in space.

Equipped with a more precise controller, the robot's sensing and decision-making system integrates 19 visual, tactile and auditory sensors.

Xiaomi has also integrated CyberDog 2 with a self-learning AI system based on 30,000 other robot dog models. So this robot has the same features as any regular robot dog.

The CyberDog 2 is powered by a built-in battery that can operate for 90 minutes before quickly charging via USB-C. The robot can also be controlled by remote control or smartphone thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The CyberDog 2 costs $1,800, while the first version cost $1,540.

With four legs and animal-like agility, CyberDog 2 operates similarly to Spot, a dog-like robot from the American company Boston Dynamics. Spot first went on sale in 2020 for a hefty $75,000.

Robot dogs are increasingly being used in fields such as construction, defense, and infrastructure maintenance. Elon Musk's SpaceX even uses robot dogs to inspect launch sites immediately after rockets have been launched.

Video Xiaomi introduces new generation robot dog with special features (Source: Xiaomi):