China-developed world's fastest four-legged robot can sprint at 10m per second

(ECNS) -- Black Panther 2.0, the world’s fastest quadrupedal robot developed by Zhejiang University, can sprint at 10 meters per second and even faster, which is as fast as a top 100-meter sprinter.

The robot weighing 84 pounds (38 kilograms) and standing 2.1 feet (0.63 meters) tall, was unveiled to the public on Jan. 13 this year.

According to the research team, development of the robot began in 2018, with multiple innovative iterations in control algorithms and hardware achieved.

To achieve such a remarkable speed, researchers equipped the robot with flexible springs between its leg joints. These springs create a buffer during movement, reducing the impact on its carbon-fiber structures while allowing it to maximize its power output. 

However, the robot has strict requirements for ground conditions and current stability so that the speed of 10 meters per second can only be achieved on a treadmill currently, said Jin Yongbin, a member of the research team.

The research team is working on the next generation of Black Panther, with an ambitious target speed of 15 meters per second.