Boston Dynamics is back in the news again - this time with the WildCat, formerly known as the Cheetah. This robot is impressive as it is capable of running at 16mph. The first time we laid eyes on the WildCat was back in 2012 when it was attached to hydraulic pumps powering its legs and binding it to a treadmill. Fast forward to 2013 and the WildCat is capable of sprinting outside, no wires attached.
In its current form, the WildCat is only half the speed of a Cheetah; however, it is completely free roaming and is the latest addition to the U.S. Military-funded ground robots. Another similar robot from Boston Dynamics is the BigDog, which is a ground robot that is capable of traversing almost any terrain and has the ability to lift heavy loads.
WildCat is being developed to move fast on all types of terrain. So far, it can run in bounding and galloping gaits (the video below shows WildCat's best performance so far). The quadruped robot is being developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA's M3 program.
We're not sure what powers the WildCat, but if it isn't something more advanced than gasoline, then this sprinting robot won't do very well in the field.
Meanwhile, WIldCat isn't alone. Before the unveiling of the WildCat, Boston Dynamics showcased an impressive humanoid robot called the Atlas that stands at six-foot-two and weighs over 330lb. The Atlas seeks to replicate human joints through its 28 hydraulically-activated joints.
The robot is capable of balancing itself on one leg, avoiding small obstacles, all the while being hit with heavy objects. The robot will compete in DARPA's Virtual Robotic Challenge - a public competition with a massive $2 million prize money launched last October.
We hope to see more from these robots in the future as technology advances. As it stands now, we should not expect much from the WildCat or the Atlas, as more tweaks are needed before they can perform in the real world.
