Q5 Wheeled Humanoid Redefines Service Robots With Ultra-Human Interaction

CES Debut Stuns

Robot Era turned heads at CES 2026 by unveiling the Q5, a wheeled humanoid platform that blends lifelike gestures with seamless mobility to transform service interactions. Standing as a pinnacle of their "Hexa-Core" lineup alongside the L7 bipedal model and XHAND1 dexterous hand, the Q5 promises to elevate everyday human-robot encounters from mechanical to profoundly intuitive. Attendees watched it squat fluidly to hand over gifts, replicating human motions with 44 degrees of freedom for natural collaboration in crowded spaces. This launch signals Robot Era's bold push into commercial deployment, where robots evolve from tools into trusted companions.

Lifelike Gestures Emerge

Q5 breaks new ground with its bionic 7-axis arms and 11-DOF "Fairy Hands," enabling it to perform rapid tasks like 10 clicks per second or lifting 10 kg effortlessly, mimicking a human barista pouring drinks or a concierge sorting packages. These capabilities foster ultra-human rapport, as the robot's slim waist allows expressive leaning and pointing during conversations, drawing people in rather than pushing them away. Powered by the ERA-42 embodied AI, Q5 learns from teleoperated human data via VR gloves, refining its demeanor for warmer, context-aware responses that feel genuinely personal.

Fusion Sensing Unlocks

Engineers at Robot Era fused RGB, stereo cameras, LiDAR, ultrasonic sensors, IMU, gyroscope, force, and temperature detectors into Q5's core, creating a sensory web that interprets subtle human cues like hesitant steps or warm handshakes. This setup drives indoor and visual SLAM navigation, letting the robot glide at 1.5 m/s through hotel lobbies or labs while preempting bumps with collision detection and force limiting. Running on ROS2 alongside a proprietary OS with Python, C++, and open APIs, Q5 iterates behaviors in real time, turning raw data into empathetic adjustments that prioritize safety in shared zones.

Scenarios Transform Daily

In elder care, Q5 gently guides residents with voice and gesture cues, fetching meds or sharing stories via its DeepSeek LLM chatbot. Retail teams deploy it as a shopping aide that scans aisles for stock, while hospitality staff rely on it to escort guests or polish shoes with dexterous precision. Research labs harness its payload versatility for tools, packages, or instruments, and logistics ops benefit from its collaborative mode during handoffs. These applications spotlight Q5's knack for people-facing roles, where wheeled stability meets humanoid charm to boost efficiency without isolating users.

Interaction Skills Detailed

Q5's 165 x 50 x 52 cm frame and 70 kg build empower prolonged companionship sessions, backed by a 4-year battery that sustains multi-hour engagements without fatigue. Multisensor array sharpens dexterity for nuanced touches, like steadying a trembling hand, while SLAM navigation ensures fluid approaches in dynamic homes. Force-limited safety and emergency stops enable trust-building proximity, and ROS2 software stack supports custom scripts for tailored empathy, such as reading room temperature to suggest blankets. Wheeled mobility delivers reliable presence, framing every spec as a bridge to human-centric bonds.

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