Deep Robotics has introduced the Lynx M20, a four-legged robotic platform engineered for industrial tasks in challenging environments. A follow-up to the company’s earlier agile robodog models, the M20 adds wheels, durability upgrades, and industrial capabilities to expand its range of field applications.
Described as the “world’s first wheeled robot designed for industrial use in extreme environments,” the Lynx M20 combines legged locomotion with motorized wheels. This hybrid system allows the robot to operate in both walking and rolling modes, switching between them to optimize for speed or terrain navigation. When high speed is needed, the robot can wheel along at up to 18 km/h (11.2 mph), and in more rugged or cluttered terrain, it locks the wheels and walks at a reduced speed of 7.2 km/h (4.5 mph).
The M20 is built for varied and difficult terrains. In demonstration footage, it is shown traversing rocky mountain trails, muddy wetlands, desert sands, stepped inclines, and unstable bridges. It can also navigate tight spaces as narrow as 50 cm (19.7 inches), climb over obstacles up to 80 cm (31.5 inches) high, and tackle slopes of up to 45 degrees.
To support navigation and situational awareness, the robot is equipped with a 96-line LiDAR system providing 360-degree coverage. A wide-angle front-facing camera streams live video, and bi-directional lighting helps illuminate the robot’s surroundings during low-light operations. These features are intended to assist remote monitoring as well as autonomous navigation.
Physically, the Lynx M20 weighs 33 kg (about 73 pounds), including its battery pack. It can carry a payload of up to 15 kg (33 pounds) on its top platform. The robot is IP66-rated for weather protection and operates in temperature ranges from -20 °C to 55 °C (-4 °F to 131 °F). Its battery offers a runtime of 2.5 to 3 hours, and the unit supports hot-swappable batteries to extend operational time in the field without shutting down.
A higher-end version of the robot, called the Lynx M20 Pro, adds autonomous navigation features. These include SLAM-based positioning and mapping, autonomous charging, and additional I/O such as USB and Gigabit Ethernet.
While Deep Robotics hasn’t announced fixed pricing for the Lynx M20 Pro, the standard Lynx robodog is priced at around US$18,000. The M20, with its enhanced capabilities, is expected to cost more, but specific pricing details are available only upon request.
Source: Deep Robotics
