Researchers at MIT have created a cheetah robot that can jump and bound much like the real thing.
Researchers at MIT have created a cheetah robot that can jump and bound much like the real thing.
Its speed may not be as impressive as an actual cheetah’s, but the scientists seem fine with that for now.
Their primary goal was to create a robot capable of mimicking the motions of a cheetah, or another fast runner like Usain Bolt, while ramping up their speed.
Said one of the developers, “Many sprinters… don’t cycle their legs really fast. They actually increase their stride length by pushing downward harder and increasing their ground force, so they can fly more while keeping the same frequency.”
By focusing on how force is adapted, the researchers were able to create an algorithm that also greatly expanded their robot’s ability to handle rough terrain.
Test runs took place both outdoors and inside on a treadmill.
At this time, the robotic big cat can only run about 10 miles per hour but the scientists are confident they can triple that with a few weaks.
The robot also proved capable of running over obstacles without losing its footing or its speed.
