Behold the Cheetah Robot. The Singularity is nigh!
March 6, 2012 | Source: Bloomberg Businessweek
Cheetah Robot (credit: Boston Dynamics)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding Boston Dynamics’ development of a prototype robot called the Cheetah.
The cat-like bot managed to gallop 18 mph on a treadmill, setting a new land speed record for legged robots. (The previous record: 13.1 mph, set at MIT in 1989.)
The company has a prototype human-like robot in the works called the Atlas that can walk upright and use its hands for balance while squeezing through narrow passages on surveillance or emergency rescue missions.
It could achieve 40 mph and someday serve as a “scout robot,” and “maybe deliver some payload”; it also could be useful in emergency rescue and civilian disasters, the company says.
Comments (17)
by MadAl
To correct everyone who says it is running BACKWARDS it ain’t. Watch how a cheetah runs in the wild (its hind legs come past the front (efficient means of getting up to speed really fast and staying at that speed for an extended period)
Watch video more carefully you can see the cheetah initally overuns the treadmill annd it slows itself to 18mph. This can RUN faster…
This is not an equipment carrying robot it is simply what a cheetah does in the wild – chase down the prey and kill it.
As far as cable goes – this is only the prototype it wouldn’t go autonomous until they have all the bugs out of the programming/AI.
by Peter Simmons
Can someone explain what a robot is? My understanding always was that t was a self-motivating, self propelling, entirely independent machine. This is receiving everythig through a cable. Is it going to be backed up with a vehicle driving alongside holding its lead? Robots came from and should remain in science fiction. Some people seem to have a problem separating fiction from fact. This website does for sure; most articles seem to have the words may, could, might, and possibly in profusion.
by Rich Seiter
The wikipedia entry is a good start: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot
Note the distinction between autonomous, semi-autonomous and remotely controlled. Radio can be used for remote control. rather than cables Robots are here now (e.g. manufacturing assembly) and likely to remain so unless we are willing to pay more for manufactured goods. This website does engage in much technological speculation. It is up to us to decide which speculations we consider credible.
by Editor
“receiving everythig through a cable”: this product is still in the lab. See the Big Dog videos for examples of their products in the wild.
by anthrobotic
Somewhat dated, but related!
PETMAN: Boston Dynamics Stumbles (HA!) into the Humanoid Android Pole Position – http://goo.gl/h5Yo5
by Dave
cool,but can it run forward?
by The Sky Hedgehogian Maestro
So…. I guess a robot version of Sonic the Hedgehog out of the question then?
by DeBee Corley
Wow, 13 mph in 1989, 18 mph in 2012. 23 mph in 2122. (taking into consideration the NASA effect).
by Spikosauropod
But that’s the beauty of this thing. It can’t possibly used to carry anything substantial. Unlike bigdog or petman, no one can claim that it is intended to offload troops or test equipment.
Boston dynamics can finally come out of the shadows. This is a pure killing machine.
by Cybernettr
It may be a killing machine, but it’s nothing that a bazooka or a land mine couldn’t take out rather easily.
by Patrick
I would like to commute by riding this.
I wonder how expensive it would be per mile compared to a motorcycle or car.
by Spikosauropod
Dang. Now that thing will be dropping nuts and bolts all over the place and getting into the neighbors garden.
To gaoptimize:
The tether is just a precaution. It supports its own weight.
by Ellen hardy
Not only 18 mph, but 18 mph … backwards! And a functional acceleration of but 4.9 mph over the course of 23 years is a little sad. And finally, what practical value does a robot that runs 40 mph backwards (away from the action) have?
by Khannea Suntzu
Hey that’s the progenitor of my 2068 body. :)
by gaoptimize
Land? Looks like there was a cable harness. I doubt Guinness would certify thet teathered treadmill performance as a land speed record. Impressive none the less.
by melajara
Interesting to see how Cheetah is essentially running BACKWARDS in this video.
I presume this is easier to model. Unfortunately it is also the low hanging fruit as it would work only on flat surfaces and without swift turns.
Anyway, it’s still puzzling, but at 18m/h it reminds me more of a small dog on the verge of apoplexy than a supple cat converging on its prey ;-)
by Editor
running BACKWARDS: yep, it spotted Big Dog.