Deep Robotics' Intelligent Four-Legged Robot is Coming: Lite3

Deep Robotics launched the latest version of its intelligent quadruped robot Lite3 at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in London last week. There are four different models in the Lite3 series. And the entry-level model, Basic, is priced at $2,890 (USD) for tech enthusiasts. The other three models, Venture, Pro and LIDAR, are designed for scientific work and education.

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Lite3: Extraordinary Movement Capability

Deep Robotics, a Chinese company specializing in developing quadruped robots. It's back with a major upgrade to its latest robot dog, which is equipped to carry payloads of up to 7.5 kg and can operate for up to 90 minutes at a range of five kilometers. According to Deep Robotics, the latest robot has a 50 percent increase in torque over the Lite2 model. "The high-torque co-drive module provides high torque density, improved rotational stability and reduced power consumption. The Lite3 features an industrial-grade real-time control system with depth optimization, a first for the product line, which triples the total computing power. Algorithm upgrades make its motion more agile and responsive. Lite 3 can climb steps up to 15 centimeters high, close to the maximum available for a quadruped robot of its size. And it runs at a top speed of four meters per second. It can also perform horizontal jumps, high jumps, front flips and other difficult maneuvers."

It showcases state-of-the-art, open modular construction. And it is built to be flexible and scalable. The device can be developed to fit modules such as Real Time Kinematics (RTK), artificial intelligence, edge processing and other types of sensors that can be easily added. Thanks to leveled sensing capability interfaces (SDK, API), LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and depth camera, automatic navigation, automatic stopping, obstacle avoidance, visual positioning, 3D scanning and other perceptual capabilities are further enhanced. Lite3 is also capable of navigating difficult terrain and initiating emergency rescue missions. "Lite3 has the capacity to survey rough terrain, especially after accidents/natural disasters. The main objective is to support people in repetitive and high-risk missions."

The series is currently available for pre-order on the company's official website

Lite3 is equipped with a combined advanced mobility and open modular structure. It is designed to serve training, research and innovative entertainment purposes. By introducing new features, the smart dog can also perform complex movements such as forward flips. According to the robotics organization, reputable universities such as Tsinghua, Peking, Edinburgh and University College London have also embraced the use of robot dogs for research purposes.

"Although we have improved the technical aspects of Lite3, we have also managed to lower the prices to make it more affordable for a wider group of potential users," said DongXin Zheng, product manager at DEEP Robotics. Other more industrial robots in the Deep series include the Jueying X20 Robot dog with a payload capacity of 85 kg. The series is currently available for pre-order on the DEEP Robotics official website. The Lite3 series robot dogs are currently sold in various regions, including Asia, especially Japan and South Korea, North America, Western Europe and the Middle East. The company will start shipping across Europe in September 2023. And it hopes to showcase it in the US in October.