Imagine coming home to find a robot silently rolling down the hallway, only to see it—upon encountering stairs or a garden—shift its shape, lower its body, and switch to walking on four legs to continue its task. This is the concept behind the PrimeBOT Qiyuan T1, introduced as one of the first personal robots capable of switching between different modes of locomotion.

One of the major challenges with current robots is that each locomotion system works well only in specific environments: wheeled robots are fast, efficient, and energy-saving, yet they are limited by stairs, uneven terrain, and grass. Bipedal humanoids can handle these obstacles but require more powerful motors, complex balancing algorithms, and significantly more energy.

The PrimeBOT Qiyuan T1 attempts to bridge these two worlds. Indoors, it uses two legs equipped with motorized wheels, allowing for rapid movement and precise maneuvering in narrow corridors. When it encounters more challenging obstacles, the robot automatically lowers its center of gravity and transforms into a quadruped, using the same actuators and sensors to navigate ramps, uneven floors, and outdoor areas with much greater stability.

However, mobility is only part of the project; the PrimeBOT Qiyuan T1 was also developed to act as an intelligent assistant—and even an autonomous camera operator. Its array of articulated cameras, combined with artificial intelligence, allows it to follow people, interpret voice commands and gestures, and execute smooth filming movements, including cinematic effects similar to those used in professional productions.

Weighing approximately 8.5 kg, the robot uses force sensors to interact safely around people. It offers around four hours of battery life per charge and has an announced price in the $3,200 range, positioning it as a product aimed at the home and content creation markets.