Boston Dynamics, the Alphabet-owned robotics company, has unveiled a new robot that robotics experts say is unlike anything they’ve seen before.

The massive legged, wheeled machine is called Handle.

It is a research robot standing almost 2m tall, travels at more than 14km/h and jumps more than 1m vertically.

It uses electric power to operate both electric and hydraulic actuators, with a range of about 25km on one battery charge.

What sets Handle apart is its ability to move with confidence and an understanding of what its body is capable of – it’s remarkably lifelike. Robots are usually stiff, slow and careful.

The robot may one day be used in warehouses, as illustrated by this video released by Boston Dynamics:

It can jump over hurdles and land on its wheeled feet, lift a single leg while moving, stroll in the snow and go down stairs.

Handle can also carry a payload of 45kg, which roboticists say is impressive for its size and shape.

Marc Raibert, the CEO of Boston Dynamics, called it “nightmare inducing.”

Vikash Kumar, a robotics researcher at the University of Washington said: “It’s very impressive … nothing like this has been shown before.”

Handle uses many of the same dynamics, balance and mobile manipulation principles found in the other quadruped and biped robots Boston Dynamics’ build – but with only about 10 actuated joints, it is significantly less complex. 

Wheels are efficient on flat surfaces while legs can go almost anywhere: by combining wheels and legs Handle can have the best of both worlds.