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A Chinese robotics startup has showcased what it describes as the world’s first transformable personal humanoid robot.
PrimeBOT has officially unveiled the Qiyuan T1, which is capable of autonomously switching between quadruped and wheel-foot humanoid forms.
Built on a single chassis, the robot can change its configuration without human intervention, enabling it to adapt to both challenging outdoor terrain and indoor home environments.
The Shanghai-based company says the dual-mode design combines the stability and mobility of a quadruped with the interaction capabilities of a humanoid, expanding its potential for personal assistance and everyday use.
In early 2026, PrimeBOT launched the Prime Q1 and Prime T1, two personal robots built for human-like interaction and different everyday use cases.
Adaptive robot debuts
PrimeBOT showcased the Qiyuan T1 at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which was held from July 17-20 in Shanghai. The company has not yet announced pricing or commercial availability but said additional launch and sales details will be revealed at a later date.
Though detailed specifications are not available, Qiyuan T1 can autonomously switch between two distinct modes—a wheel-foot humanoid and a quadruped robot—without human intervention. Built on a single integrated chassis, the robot combines the mobility of a four-legged machine with the interactive capabilities of a humanoid, enabling it to move seamlessly between challenging outdoor environments and indoor living spaces, reports Xinhua.
Unlike conventional robots that are limited to a single form, the Qiyuan T1 automatically recognizes its surroundings and changes configuration based on the terrain and task. When operating outdoors, it transforms into a quadruped, allowing it to travel across uneven surfaces such as grass, gravel, slopes, and stairs with greater stability. This mode is intended for applications including following users during outdoor activities, carrying light loads, and accompanying people across difficult terrain where wheeled robots typically struggle.
Once indoors, the robot transitions into a wheel-foot humanoid configuration. Powered by a quiet wheel-drive system and featuring a zero turning radius, it can maneuver efficiently through narrow hallways, furniture-filled rooms, and other confined spaces, reports Gasgoo.
PrimeBOT says the robot’s force-control technology enables natural physical interactions with people, allowing it to perform gestures such as hand-holding and gentle touch while maintaining safe human-robot interaction. Importantly, the transformation process is continuous, allowing the robot to keep moving, following users, and interacting throughout the transition without restarting its systems or interrupting ongoing tasks.
Smart robot companion
At the core of the Qiyuan T1 is PrimeBOT’s Transformer-based cross-morph architecture, which unifies hardware and software across both robot forms. Rather than using separate systems for each configuration, the robot shares structural components, joints, actuators, perception modules, and power systems between the humanoid and quadruped modes.
The platform also incorporates a flip camera, a 45-degree tilted interactive display, and a multi-microphone array for communication, environmental awareness, and multimodal AI interaction.
The robot’s cross-morph locomotion foundation model uses a unified control framework to coordinate balance, posture, and movement regardless of its current form. This enables smooth transitions while maintaining stability and continuous operation, a capability PrimeBOT says distinguishes T1 from existing robots that require manual reconfiguration or separate platforms, reports Gasgoo.
Beyond mobility, PrimeBOT has positioned the T1 as an intelligent companion for content creation and daily assistance. The robot integrates with action cameras and supports voice-controlled filming, autonomous follow recording, and trajectory-based camera movement.
It can dynamically adjust its own position to match the camera’s perspective, creating smoother tracking shots for outdoor adventures, family activities, and creator-focused filming. The company also envisions the robot assisting with everyday tasks such as collecting deliveries, carrying small items, and providing home companionship.
