Seen above, the DARPA Cheetah is their new robot, and it can run……FAST. 18mph is how fast this bad boy can run you down and take you out in the future, so remember this day. In the video it looks like it’s only running backwards so imaging the possibilities…Cheetahs…..Cheetahs everywhere… That one was for you Drew. Here’s the scoop from DARPA

This video shows a demonstration of the “Cheetah” robot galloping at speeds of up to 18 miles per hour (mph), setting a new land speed record for legged robots. The previous record was 13.1 mph, set in 1989.

The robot’s movements are patterned after those of fast-running animals in nature. The robot increases its stride and running speed by flexing and un-flexing its back on each step, much as an actual cheetah does.

The current version of the Cheetah robot runs on a laboratory treadmill where it is powered by an off-board hydraulic pump, and uses a boom-like device to keep it running in the center of the treadmill. Testing of a free-running prototype is planned for later this year.

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