Description :
Cheetah Robot which is powered by a hydraulic pump is a fast-running quadruped developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA. It just blazed past its previous speed record recorded in February at 18 mph (29 Km/h), getting up to 28.3 mph (45.5 Km/h) - about 0.5 mph faster than Usain Bolt's fastest 20 meter split.
"This version of the Cheetah Robot has a slight advantage over Bolt as it runs on a treadmill with offboard power." Darpa said in a statement, "but most of the power Cheetah used was to swing and lift its legs fast enough, not to propel iself forward."
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| Usain Bolt: World's fastest human |
The agency plans to test the legged robot in the field early next year. According to Darpa the aim is to "more effectively assist war fighters across a greater range of Defense missions."
The machine's design has been inspired by the real cheetah, the fastest land animal which can reach speeds of 75 mph (121 Km/h).
"Cheetahs happen to be beautiful examples of how natural Engineering has created speed and agility across rough terrain," said Gill Pratt, Darpa programme manager.
Learn more about Boston Dynamics projects and see how they change your idea of what robots can do.
*by andreascy*
