On January 1, 2026, a "New Year Climbing Challenge" for robots kicked off on the 450-meter outdoor observation deck of Canton Tower. The MAXHUB X7 quadruped robot demonstrated outstanding obstacle negotiation and motion control capabilities, successfully climbing the complex stepped terrain of the high-rise building and winning the "Best Obstacle Breakthrough Award".
The event, co-hosted by Guangdong Economic & Science Channel and Canton Tower, focused on autonomous navigation and scene adaptability of robots. It brought together robots from over ten robotics companies, including GAC Group, Midea, Unitree, Pudu, and others, showcasing China's technological breakthroughs and industrial strength in the field of AI and robotics.
On the Competition Stage: Stability Defines Obstacle Breakthrough
As the MAXHUB X7 prepared to take the stage, it stood as steady as a rock, poised and ready. Its four legs gripped the ground firmly, its body leaning slightly forward like an athlete about to sprint. The front feet precisely probed the first step, the center of gravity smoothly shifted, and the rear legs followed—the entire motion was seamless and fluid. The "Best Obstacle Breakthrough Award" recognized not just the physical act of climbing stairs. When the robot swayed lightly to the rhythm of the music "Dawan Ji", it also demonstrated exquisitely agile control capabilities.
Technology at Its Core: A Fully Self-Developed Platform Built for Extreme Conditions
Consistent performance in harsh environments comes from a fully self-developed core engineered for industrial scenarios:
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60kg self-weight with an 80kg maximum payload – equivalent to an adult carrying another person.
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12 self-developed high-power-density joints paired with a dual-stack strategy of "AI + traditional control" ensures every step is powerful and stable.
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IP66 protection rating and an operating temperature range of -20°C to 55°C – unfazed by high-altitude winds or summer heat.
Battery life:
The MAXHUB X7 supports a mobile rated load of over 40kg. With a 40kg load, continuous walking endurance exceeds 5 hours; with a 20kg load, it exceeds 8 hours. Charging takes only 3 hours(using an 800W standard charger), supporting high-intensity continuous operation.*
Navigation:
Users can flexibly choose navigation kits. When equipped with sensors such as LiDAR for navigation, the robot can achieve autonomous navigation in enclosed environments. To facilitate developer integration, the MAXHUB X7 provides secondary development interfaces based on HTTP and WebSocket communication protocols, covering multiple software algorithm modules including chassis motion control, navigation map management, and navigation workflow control.
Behind the honor, the MAXHUB X7 team values the real-world data accumulated through three rounds of testing. The X7 completed all three rounds – from initial exploration to smooth adjustment, finally reaching the summit in optimal condition. This demonstrates its powerful ability to learn and dynamically plan in real time when facing unknown terrain in real-world operations.
“The competition gave us a more direct view of the robot’s performance and limitations in truly complex environments, especially in continuous climbing and posture recovery. The data collected provides valuable direction for our future efforts in motion algorithm optimization, lightweight structure, and energy management,” said Wang Xu, Vice President of the Strategic Resource Management Center at CVTE.
Expanding Boundaries: From Competition Arena to Real-World Sites, Connecting the Future with Reliability
With five core advantages – high payload, ultra-long endurance, all-terrain mobility, modular replacement, and cloud-grade development interfaces – the MAXHUB X7 is more than a quadruped robot that “runs fast, carries heavy loads, and sees accurately.” It is an open, intelligent mobile platform for the future of industry. It is currently applied in scenarios such as industrial inspection and campus patrols, providing reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions for automation and intelligence upgrades in energy, mining, construction, campuses, public safety, and other fields.
From the “millimeter-level needle threading” robotic arm that appeared seven times on China Central Television during the Canton Fair months ago, to the quadruped robot climbing Canton Tower with steady steps today, CVTE is continuously demonstrating the breakthrough trajectory of Chinese intelligent manufacturing in the robotics field. Wang Xu added: “In the future, we will focus R&D on AI-driven high-dynamic motion control, cross-domain collaborative decision-making algorithms, and low-power long-endurance systems, pushing robots into more intelligent, more reliable, and wider application scenarios.”
The climb to the 450-meter tower top is complete, but the real climb has just begun. When a robot reaches the top of China’s tallest tower, it gazes not just at the view, but at the next real-world challenge waiting to be conquered.
*Endurance data measured at room temperature, obtained after 10 hours of continuous remote-controlled operation and fully charged using an 800W standard charger.
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