- Published on
AgiBot's X2 Humanoid Sticks a Webster Flip, Pushing Boundaries of Dynamic Control
- Authors
- Name
- Humanoids daily
- @humanoidsdaily
Shanghai-based robotics firm AgiBot has released a new video showcasing its Lingxi X2 humanoid robot successfully performing a Webster flip—a dynamic, single-leg front flip common in parkour and gymnastics. The short clip, posted on the company's social media, shows the bipedal robot launching from one foot, tucking in mid-air, and landing with notable stability.
The company's accompanying post was confident:
FIRST EVER on Earth: #AgiBot X2 just landed a #WebsterFlip. Watch it catapult, tuck, spot the ground and stick the landing. The future didn’t walk in… it flipped.
🔥 FIRST EVER on Earth: #AgiBot X2 just landed a #WebsterFlip. Watch it catapult, tuck, spot the ground and stick the landing. The future didn’t walk in… it flipped. 🎥👇
While the robotics world has seen its share of impressive acrobatic feats, including backflips and parkour from competitors like Boston Dynamics, the Webster flip presents a unique challenge. The maneuver requires a powerful, asymmetric launch and precise control of momentum and orientation without the stable, two-footed takeoff used in a standard front flip. Successfully executing it suggests a high degree of sophistication in AgiBot's motion control algorithms and hardware.
The achievement is the latest in a series of demonstrations for the Lingxi X2, a 1.3-meter tall humanoid robot designed for agility and advanced interaction. Earlier this year, AgiBot showed the X2 walking, dancing, and even riding a bicycle and scooter. This latest demonstration, however, is less about practical application and more a statement about the platform's underlying capabilities in dynamic control and balance.
AgiBot, founded by former Huawei "Genius Youth" engineer Peng Zhihui, has been moving quickly to establish itself as a key player in the increasingly crowded humanoid robotics space. The company's progress reflects a broader trend of rapid hardware and software development in the sector, fueled by advances in AI and simulation.
The Lingxi X2 is one of several platforms developed by the company, which also produces a wheeled version, the X2-N. The X2-N made headlines recently for its ability to navigate varied terrains, like stairs and ramps, by seamlessly switching between bipedal walking and rolling on integrated wheels. Notably, the X2-N can perform some of these tasks "blindly," relying on proprioceptive feedback—internal data from joint torque and pressure sensors—rather than cameras to adapt its posture and movement.
This focus on robust, real-time control systems is central to AgiBot's strategy. While a Webster flip may not be a required skill for robots in logistics or healthcare—two of the company's stated target markets—it serves as a compelling benchmark of the platform's potential. Such demonstrations are often used by robotics companies to attract talent, investment, and signal to the market that their underlying technology is advancing at a rapid pace.
Still, the gap between an impressive, one-off demonstration and reliable, real-world deployment remains significant. The challenges of battery life, cost, and developing software that can handle the unpredictability of unstructured human environments are substantial hurdles for the entire industry.
With this latest demonstration, AgiBot has firmly planted its flag among the top contenders in humanoid agility. While the path to commercial viability is long, the Webster flip is another small, but significant, leap forward.