DARPA's Newest Robot, Cheetah, can run up to 18 miles(29 kilometers)

[ignhelper]

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[video=youtube;d2D71CveQwo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2D71CveQwo[/video]

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.

While the M3 program conducts basic research and is not focused on specific military missions, the technology it aims to develop could have a wide range of potential military applications.

The DARPA M3 performer for Cheetah is Boston Dynamics of Waltham, Mass.
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[release]
Ground robots are currently deployed by the US military in various explosive-ordinance-disposal missions.
However, if the limitations on ‘bot mobility and manipulation capabilities can be overcome, robots could ultimately assist warfighters across a greater range of missions.
As such, the Pentagon’s Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program is working to create significant scientific and engineering advances in robot mobility.
Indeed, DARPA’s M3 program pursues four parallel tracks of R&D: Tool design, improvement of production methods and processes, optimization in control of robot mobility and manipulation, and prototype demonstration.
In the video above, the "Cheeta" robot manages to gallop 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.


According to DARPA researchers, the robot’s movements are patterned after those of fast-running animals in nature. Meaning, the robot increases its stride and running speed by flexing and un-flexing its back on each step, similar to the sprinting abilities of a real cheetah.
The current version of the Cheetah ‘bot runs on a laboratory treadmill where it is powered by an off-board hydraulic pump - while using 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.[/release]

[URL]http://www.tgdaily.com/security-features/61874-video-darpa-s-cheetah-robot-sets-new-speed-record[/URL]

FUCK YEAH DARPA

[WolfeClaw]

I for one accept our new robotic headcrab overlords.

[ChaosUnleash]

I find stuff like this incredible, especially how it is modeled after an actual cheetah which actually helps it move quicker.

[Mechwarrior]

Oh jeez when I watched this video all I thought of was a robotic cheetah with a gun on its back leaping from building to building killing people.

[notgeogzm]

Still not faster than Usain Bolt.

[MenteR]

when are they gonna make sex bots that can fuck at 30 mph?

[Last or First]

Anyone else reminded of the mechanical hounds from Fahrenheit 451?

[Djcreeper]

Robot cheetahs...

:suicide:

[Jimpyy]

So next question, how does it turn?

[Coldmute]

[QUOTE=Last or First;35008236]Anyone else reminded of the mechanical hounds from Fahrenheit 451?[/QUOTE]Actually it reminded me of Crying Wolf for some reason.

[Conely]

[QUOTE=geogzm;35008185]Still not faster than Usain Bolt.[/QUOTE]

And Usain Bolt isn't even as fast as a domestic house-cat, losing by about two MPH. And actual Cheetahs are about twenty MPH faster than even that.

[sami-pso]

[QUOTE=Jimpy;35008281]So next question, how does it turn?[/QUOTE]

Seems to me that's going to be a huge obstacle.

[MegaJohnny]

This would be absolutely terrifying to see running towards you at full speed.

[CarlBooth]

Are these the same people that made the rock climbing thing and the jumping thing?

[Dlaor-guy]

That running at 2.5 mph looks so silly :v:

[shian]

And then in the future

[img]http://images.wikia.com/zoids/images/a/a5/LOLOL_Liger_Zero.jpg[/img]

[Shovelpass]

It's just amazing how this thing can make adjustments so well.

You can see it stumbling a bit when it's moving at top speeds, but it makes minute adjustments to stay balanced and straight. Must have some incredible sensors at work inside of it.

[Overv]

Host long can it actually run at that speed? Because I thought the title meant it could run up to 18 miles.

[Coldmute]

[QUOTE=sami-pso;35008351]Seems to me that's going to be a huge obstacle.[/QUOTE]If they could find some way to make it pivot and rotate at the midsection, I'd imagine that being a potentially viable method.

[Mon]

[QUOTE=Overv;35008537]Host long can it actually run at that speed? Because I thought the title meant it could run up to 18 miles.[/QUOTE]

if it can do it for an hour then you thought right

[da bloop]

(Insert Farenheit 451 reference here)

[Hivemind]

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;35008570]If they could find some way to make it pivot and rotate at the midsection, I'd imagine that being a potentially viable method.[/QUOTE]

Possibly just making the legs able to move left/right a bit would work too.

[Funky Mummy]

If I was that thing running against me I would just drop everything and fucking run.

[Hivemind]

[QUOTE=CommanderPT;35010389]If I was that thing running against me I would just drop everything and fucking run.[/QUOTE]

Average human running speed is 15mph, this thing can run at 18mph.

We are all doomed.

[OvB]

Boston Dynamics made, DARPA funded.

Boston Dynamics is basically the closest thing to Cyberdyne Systems that we got.

[Uber|nooB]

I wonder when the creepiness of the stuff that comes out of boston dynamics will start to outweigh how cool it is. Maybe when they release a video in three or four years titled "DARPA robot can reliably decapitate every human within a 4 meter radius in 3.2 seconds".

[swebonny]

[QUOTE=Ignhelper;35008030]
FUCK YEAH DARPA AND BOSTON DYNAMICS[/QUOTE]

Boston Dynamics makes the coolest robots.

[erik802]

[QUOTE=OvB;35010698]Boston Dynamics made, DARPA funded.

Boston Dynamics is basically the closest thing to Cyberdyne Systems that we got.[/QUOTE]
Example of their work for the people who dont know.
[video=youtube;mclbVTIYG8E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E[/video]

[BadderSanta]

[img]http://www.transformers2.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ravage1.jpg[/img]

[GarrettFox]

Okay from a technical standpoint I am aware that this is neat.

But from a personal standpoint, really? THAT is the best we have for land based legged animals? I recognize the extreme difficulties with designing a legged animal, but is this awkward fucker running on nubby feet the best we can manage?

Is it, perhaps, because we haven't yet developed artificial muscles? It would seem to me, and I am certainly not versed in the subject, that this may be a tremendous waste of time if we can manage really solid artificial muscles in the next decade. Not that I feel comfortable in the slightest questioning the wisdom of DARPA.

[editline]5th March 2012[/editline]

[QUOTE=erik802;35011020]Example of their work for the people who dont know.
[video=youtube;mclbVTIYG8E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mclbVTIYG8E[/video][/QUOTE]

Oh, that is much better, though it also seems to be using hydraulics to mimic muscles more closely. The use of feet that actually articulate is nice.