MIT Cheetah 2 robot (Photo : Reuters)
MIT's Cheetah 2 robot was featured in a YouTube video on Thursday, running on an outdoor treadmill and indoor track, and leaping over obstacles. The robotic cheetah is the world's first 4-legged autonomous robot to perform those two actions, running at speeds of about 5 mph (8km/h).
The robot cheetah was able to do that due to algorithms that Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers developed. The new tech allows the leaping machine to see obstacles the same way a human would see them.
As the MIT robotic cheetah approaches the obstacle, it estimates the height and distance of the object, in order to make a perfectly-timed leap and four-footed landing. The complex computation is done in an incredible 100 milliseconds, according to CNET.
During the testing phase, the Cheetah 2 jumped over objects as high as 18 in. (0.46 m), which is around half of the running robot's height. The MIT robot has earned the nickname "Ferrari of the robotics world."
The cat-like animaloid can sprint for 15 minutes, while using less power than a microwave oven uses, according to Daily Mail. MIT researchers had to create new technology such as its 12 high-powered, lightweight motors (3 per leg), and a robot algorithm for its split-second leaps.
The Cheetah 2 robot also includes some components that are off-the-shelf, such as an Xbox controller. Wireless Internet communications were also used for transmitting commands to the machine.
The MIT robotic cheetah is not just a way to showcase new robot technology. It could be used in hostile environments that are too dangerous for humans.
Cheetahs are the fastest land animal on Earth, recording speeds of 60-75 mph (96-120 km/h). While the big cat runs, its tail functions like a boat rudder.
