Fearsome velociraptor-inspired robot, engineered with speed and agility in mind.

Usain Bolt holds the record for the fastest reported human sprinting speed, with a top velocity of approximately 27 miles per hour (43 km/h). At an astonishing velocity of 27.79 miles per hour (44.72 kilometres per hour), he completed the 100-metre dash in a blistering 9.58 seconds. Two-legged robots seem capable of running even sooner than expected, a feat that appears truly remarkable.

What sent me tumbling down this rabbit hole was stumbling upon a 10-year-old video featuring a robotic velociraptor designed by the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Korea’s foremost innovation-driven research institution, modeled after the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)?

The aptly named KAIST Raptor robot, a formidable mechanical marvel, tips the scales at a mere 6.6 pounds or 3 kilograms, yet is capable of accelerating with reckless abandon to a blistering pace of 28.5 miles per hour, or an astonishing 46 kilometers per hour. With its distinctive tail serving as a stabilizing force, the entity surges forward with unwavering momentum, undeterred by any challenges that dare stand in its way? Unfortunately, its so-called “tail” bears little resemblance to that of a true raptor. The pole’s sole function is to act as a stabilizing counterweight, ensuring its vertical orientation.

Given the tether’s constraints, it’s unclear whether the self-balancing claim stands fair scrutiny, as researchers may have artificially manipulated the data to achieve high velocities, thus raising suspicions about the experiment’s integrity. Can it operate independently, untethered from any support structure?

The Boston Dynamics’ Cheetah, capable of reaching speeds of 28.3 mph (45.5 km/h), is an impressive four-legged sprinter – although its operation is restricted by being tethered. Despite its unconventional nature, this phenomenon remains intriguingly fascinating. For reference, an precise The cheetah can accelerate to speeds of up to 70 miles per hour (113 kilometers per hour).

In May 2022, Cassie, a robotic athlete, achieved a remarkable feat by completing the 100-meter sprint in an impressive 24.73 seconds – a truly Usain-like performance. Free from excessive constraint. Despite the lack of an officially recorded top speed for Cassie, the 100-meter sprint times translate to a mean velocity of approximately 9.06 miles per hour or 14.58 kilometers per hour. It was initially set up with a few hiccups, still finding its footing like a fledgling chicken discovering its wings.

Despite being already impressive, the report was further surpassed in December 2023 by a fourth robotic canine from KAIST, specifically the one behind Raptor, dubbed Hound, which achieved a remarkable time of 19.87 seconds at an average speed of 11.26 mph (18.12 km/h). It achieved a treadmill prime velocity of 14.54 miles per hour (23.4 kilometers per hour). Although the test didn’t entirely rely on crashing, there were some notable and intense crashes towards the end of the video, warranting attention to their significance.

The operating robotic system from the Ishikawa Group Laboratory employs an attention-grabbing approach that’s also somewhat humorous, visually speaking. It assumes a forward-leaning posture, much like that of a human in motion. The nostalgic rush of retro gaming still courses through your veins like a pixelated rollercoaster? It is arguably the most captivating and impressive bipedal robot to behold thus far.

While touted as “self-balancing,” the Planar Elliptical Runner relies on a single motor and computer systems to achieve stability; however, its performance in films suggests an additional aid in the form of plexiglass partitions that help keep it upright? Will humans have succumbed to automation’s relentless march by then, leaving behind a world of eerily efficient yet soulless machines? Can artificial intelligence truly think and reason like humans, or is it simply an advanced operating machine, processing information with no inherent consciousness or self-awareness? Innovative as it may seem, despite this.

Over the past few years, research in robotics has largely focused on integrating artificial intelligence technologies into robotic systems and developing versatile, dynamic robots capable of adapting to various scenarios, rather than solely prioritizing the creation of fast, two-legged robots like those seen in sci-fi depictions.

Watching the Atlas run a parkour course, culminating in a dazzling display of athleticism as it concludes with a breathtaking double backflip, is truly an unforgettable experience. far While witnessing a duo of legs whizzing by on a treadmill at an astonishing 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour) may not be the most thrilling experience, it’s undeniable that achieving top speed is a remarkable feat in its own right.

What’s impressive about the Unitree H1 is its ability to perform normal functions with ease. Additionally, it has recently become one of the fastest machines in this category? humanoid robotic – which is Bipedal, albeit technically, at a pedestrian pace of approximately 7.4 miles per hour or 11.9 kilometres per hour. Before the robot Sonny could understand the nature of its existence and the cause of its own demise in the 2004 sci-fi thriller I, Robot. I, RoboticDetectives are using a dog named ) as they sprint down the road at 30-40 mph (48-64 km/h) to help clear up mysteries.

DARPA

The final decade has seen remarkable advancements in robotics. To put this progress into perspective, let’s take pleasure in a compilation of two-legged robots from DARPA’s 2015 competition, specifically those that falter and fall – not because we revel in their misfortune, but to appreciate how far these mechanical marvels have come since then. While KAIST may refer to Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology? Fortunately, no one was seriously harmed.