Image/s credit: Rainbow Robotics.

Rainbow Robotics RBQ Series Quadruped

company logo for Rainbow Robotics Rainbow Robotics

Country: South Korea

Year: 2021

Summary

A modular, IP54-rated quadruped robot platform built for inspection, patrol, research and remote missions across rough and unstructured terrain.

Status: Commercially available

Operation: Autonomous, Teleoperation

Robot Type / Domain: Industrial, Emergency & Disaster Response, Other Infrastructure, Law & Order / Security

Tasks: Monitoring, security patrol, hazard & anomaly detection, search, inspection

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What Makes the RBQ Series Quadrupeds Special

RBQ is both a field robot and an expandable development platform. Its locomotion system combines dynamics-based gait control with reinforcement-learning-based movement, allowing the robot to adapt its behaviour to rough ground, slopes and stairs. The current RBQ-10 can walk at up to 9 km/h, run at up to 14 km/h and negotiate steps as high as 25 cm.

Its four-legged design gives it access to terrain that can be difficult for conventional wheeled robots, including uneven outdoor surfaces, stairs and equipment-dense industrial areas. The IP54-rated structure provides protection suitable for dust and splashing-water exposure, while the 15 kg payload allows different sensors and mission modules to be installed.

RBQ can be controlled remotely or incorporated into an autonomous system. Rainbow Robotics offers depth cameras, optional 3D LiDAR, inspection sensors and a docking station to support navigation, obstacle avoidance and repeated missions.

Applications

RBQ is primarily intended for missions that require a mobile robot to enter difficult, repetitive or potentially hazardous environments. In factories, plants and energy facilities, it can carry visual, thermal or environmental sensors for equipment inspection, anomaly detection and remote monitoring. Optional modules can also be configured for requirements such as gas or radiation detection.

For security applications, RBQ can undertake scheduled indoor or outdoor patrols, collect video and sensor information, and reduce surveillance blind spots. Its terrain mobility also supports reconnaissance, search and initial-response activities in disaster sites or other areas where sending a person may introduce unnecessary risk.

The platform is also relevant to universities and robotics developers. An RBQ-3 has, for example, been used in published research involving LiDAR-based mapping and speech-guided semantic navigation.

Integration and Practical Benefits

RBQ provides the physical and software interfaces needed to build a customised robot system. Its current 15 kg payload capacity is supported by 54 V and 12 V power outputs, CAN communication, Ethernet connections and wireless communication. Developers can work with C/C++, Python or ROS 2, while URDF, CAD, GUI and simulation resources support development before deployment on the physical robot.

The swappable battery system makes it possible to replace depleted batteries rather than waiting for the robot to recharge. An optional docking station can also support automatic charging after a mission or when the battery becomes low. This is particularly useful for repeated inspection and patrol routes.

However, autonomous navigation, thermal inspection and automatic charging should be treated as configurable capabilities rather than standard functions in every installation. They require the relevant sensors, modules and integration work. IP54 also does not make RBQ explosion-proof or suitable for unrestricted operation in flammable or heavily contaminated environments.

RBQ-3 and RBQ-10 Compared

The main Rainbow Robotics website lists two RBQ models, but its newer technical material is focused on the updated RBQ-10. The RBQ-3 is the smaller and lighter platform, while the current RBQ-10 offers much greater payload, terrain capability, environmental protection and sensor expandability.

Model: RBQ-3
Size: 550 × 350 × 400 mm | Weight: 25 kg | Payload: 3 kg
Operating time: Up to 3 hours per full charge, including 2 hours continuously
Speed: 7.2 km/h | Maximum grade: 40% | Step height: 8 cm
Communication: Wi-Fi | IP rating: Not publicly specified
Best suited for: Lighter research, mobility experiments and inspection tasks in controlled environments where compactness matters more than payload capacity.

Model: RBQ-10
Size: 980 × 430 × 620 mm | Weight: 42 kg | Payload: 15 kg
Operating time: 2 hours, up to 4 hours
Speed: 9 km/h walking and up to 14 km/h running
Terrain: 45% longitudinal slope, 20% lateral slope and steps up to 25 cm
Communication: Wi-Fi with optional LTE | IP rating: IP54
Best suited for: Outdoor inspection, security patrol, autonomous monitoring, hazardous-area assessment and missions requiring heavier cameras or sensor packages.

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Top 5+ Qualities (by addoobot)

What we find to be the top qualities of Rainbow Robotics RBQ Series Quadrupeds:

Advanced Terrain Mobility: Handles uneven ground, slopes and stairs, including longitudinal grades up to 45% and steps up to 25 cm.
Dual Locomotion Approach: Combines dynamics-based gait control with reinforcement-learning locomotion for both controlled walking and more adaptive movement.
Fast Field Movement: Walks at up to 9 km/h and can reach 14 km/h in running mode.
Expandable 15 kg Payload: Carries inspection sensors, communications equipment, cameras and other mission-specific hardware.
Strong Environmental Perception: Includes RGB-depth and ground-facing depth cameras, with optional 3D LiDAR, PTZ and thermal sensing.
Autonomous or Remotely Operated: Supports joystick and GUI control as well as autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance and scheduled missions when configured accordingly.
Developer-Friendly Platform: Provides SDKs, ROS 2 integration, simulation tools, URDF files and hardware interfaces for research and custom application development.
Field-Oriented Construction: Uses an IP54-rated full-metal structure and swappable batteries for operation beyond controlled laboratory environments.
Automatic Charging Support: An optional docking station allows the robot to return and recharge between recurring missions with less human intervention.

Technical Specifications (best specs out of all products)

Min. Size: 550L 350W 400H (mm)

Min. Size: 21.654L 13.780W 15.748H (in)

Max. Size: 980L 430W 620H (mm)

Max. Size: 38.583L 16.929W 24.409H (in)

Max. Payload: 15 kg

Max. Payload: 33.069 lbs

Weight: 25 kg

Weight: 55.116 lbs

Max. Locomotion Speed: 3.9 m/s

Max. Locomotion Speed: 12.795 ft/s

Max. Slope: 40°

Battery Operated? Yes

Average Runtime: 3 hr(s)

Max. Runtime: 4 hr(s)

Battery Recharge Time: 1 hr(s)

Gaits: Dynamic, Walk, Run, Pronk, Bound, Pace, Trot, Other

Number of Legs: 4

DOFs per Leg: 3

DOFs per Arm/Manipulator: N/A

DOFs (total): 12

Manipulation: other

IP Rating: IP54

Operating Temperature: N/A

Open-source? N/A

Price: N/A

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Dimensions and Weight: RBQ-3: 550 × 350 × 400 mm; current RBQ-10: 980 × 430 × 620 mm | Weight: 25–42 kg

Step-Climbing Ability: RBQ-3: 8 cm; current RBQ-10: up to 25 cm

Slope: Longitudinal: Up to 45% | Lateral: Up to 20%

Sensors: IMU, Optional Perception: 3D LiDAR, 4K PTZ visual camera and thermal camera

Software: RBQ GUI, C/C++, Python and ROS 2 development resources; URDF, CAD and simulation resources are also provided

Battery: Rechargeable and swappable battery | Battery Capacity: 907 Wh total; 18 Ah at 50.4 V nominal

Data Transmission / Communication: Wi-Fi; optional LTE on the current RBQ-10 | External Interfaces – RBQ-10: 54 V, 12 V, CAN bus and three Gigabit Ethernet connections

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