Robotic speed record

Boston Dynamics has developed a four-legged robot called Cheetah that has distinguished itself by setting land speed record of 18mph on a treadmill. It all happened in a laboratory in Massachusetts. Its further development is being funded by US military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It is hoping to be used to carry out theoretical and experimental advances in the science of robotics

The Cheetah broke a land speed record for legged robots that was set in 1989 when a two-legged robot at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ran at a speed of just over 13mph (21kph), Boston Dynamics said in a statement.

Dr Alfred Rizzi, chief robotics scientist at Boston Dynamics, said the goal is ultimately to get the Cheetah running much faster and in an outdoors environment.


"We designed the treadmill to go over 50mph (80kph) but we plan to get off the treadmill and into the field as soon as possible," Rizzi said in a statement. "We really want to understand the limits of what is possible for fast-moving robots."