Cheetah Robot Outruns Usain Bolt

newstech

6 Sept

A new speed record has been set by DARPA and Boston Dynamics' Cheetah robot, running at 28.3 mph - faster than Usain Bolt's top speed of 27.78 mph.

Engineers have further optimized the algorithms that control this downright, yet (quite frankly) terrifying looking robot to increase it's land speed, that is now officially quicker than the fastest man on the planet. It's movement closely mimics that of its biological namesake, and this new speed smashes the original record of 18 mph. Luckily, the Cheetah still runs on a treadmill with a supporting arm; but as soon as it breaks free from the shackles, the human race doesn't stand a chance!

Built by Boston Dynamics, with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the company aims to create a freestanding, outdoor version called the 'WildCat' next year. At least they gave us fair warning before dooming the planet with robo-cheetahs.. It's an amazing technical feat. Mount a gyro stabilization and a machine gun to this thing, and skynet will initialize the Judgement Day.