China's Black Panther 2.0 Robot Dog Runs 100 Meters Under 10 Seconds: New World Record For Real?

China proved that a quadruped robot dog can run 100 meters in less than 10 seconds. Enter Black Panther 2.0, an out-of-this-world creation that can even outpace some of the fastest humans on the planet.

That's a world-record feat that we haven't seen for a while.

The Birth of the Black Panther 2.0 Robot Dog

Black Panther 2.0 Robot Dog Runs 100 Meters Under 10s

Black Panther 2.0 has been designed based on the result of collaboration between a humanoid innovation institute of Zhejiang University and a startup Mirror Me, which operates from Hangzhou. Designed through inspiration derived from black panther movements as agile and fast jerboas can move, these design elements that go into its fabrication include power and agility as essential attributes for effectiveness, Interesting Engineering reports.

In summary, its designer is striving hard to optimize for speed and agility with an ultimate goal to surpass even their animal competitors on land by pace and efficiency.

Record-Breaking Speed and Performance

The Black Panther 2.0 is a game-changer in robotics, finishing the 100-meter run in under 10 seconds. This robot measures 83 pounds or 38 kilograms, with a height of 2.07 feet, or 0.63 meters. It broke the world record for the fastest four-legged machine to complete a 100-meter run on land by surpassing the previous world record made by the quadruped robot HOUND in 2023.

One of the most impressive features of the Black Panther 2.0 is its other wordly design that uses springs at its joint positions to absorb shock while maintaining speed. The robot also benefits from carbon-fiber shins, inspired by jerboas, which improve stiffness by 135% while only slightly increasing its weight. To enhance grip, the Black Panther 2.0 is equipped with cheetah-inspired "running shoes" that boost traction by 200%.

Advancing Dynamic Movement with AI and Machine Learning

This technology is advanced in the Black Panther 2.0, as it uses AI and machine learning to make it adapt to gaiting for different terrains. It is able to make its limbs coordinate with each other using the concept of the Huygens' linked pendulum, allowing the robot to walk fluidly, and naturally. It is, therefore, one of the fastest and most efficient quadruped robots available in the market.

"Through the integration of software and components, we created a prototype within a mere three months," Wang Hongtao, chief of the institute and a professor at Zhejiang University said, according to local news outlet Xinhua.

This will be combined with custom high-power-density motors providing exceptional strength and precision to ensure optimal performance in dynamic environments. The advantages of such innovation open new ways for industrial applications where high-speed mobility and agility are the criteria.

The Quest to Surpass Animal Speed

While the Black Panther 2.0 still lags behind the fastest land animals like cheetahs and ostriches, its remarkable speed now allows it to outrun most humans in short sprints.

Researchers hope that with further development, this robot can eventually surpass the agility and speed of natural creatures. The team behind the Black Panther 2.0 aims to understand the differences in movement between robots and organic beings to fine-tune the robot's performance.

Competing for the Fastest Quadruped Robot Title

Before the Black Panther 2.0's record-breaking performance, the title was held by HOUND, the quadruped robot developed by the Dynamic Robot Control and Design Laboratory at Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST).

Last year, HOUND recorded a sprint time of 19.87 seconds over 100 meters, an excellent achievement in robotic mobility. It is quite obvious that the new development in Black Panther 2.0 clearly indicates that quadruped robots are advancing very rapidly.

Advances in robotic movement are being propelled forward by the integration of natural body oscillation patterns, such as those found in recent breakthroughs from the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

The device, tested on the robotic dog BERT, enhances robot mobility by timing the application of natural oscillations to produce faster, more dynamic movement with greater energy efficiency.

Robotics, in the present day, continues to advance toward new heights as far as speed, adaptability, and precision are concerned. In the years to come, we might see a new robot dog that will beat Black Panther 2.0 in a race.

Meanwhile, a robot dog made by MAB Robotics can walk on land and water. The Honey Badger is perfect for amphibious missions, especially for underwater experiments.