Robotic cheetah breaks running record

BBC : The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released video of a four-legged robot designed to move like fast-running animals in the wild. Called Cheetah, the robot will be able to “more effectively assist war fighters across a greater range of missions,” according to DARPA. The machine, which can flex its back to increase the length of its stride, is the fastest legged robot so far, having clocked speeds up to 29 kilometers per hour. Although the current model must be connected to an off-board hydraulic pump, a free-running prototype is planned for later this year.