Super-Fast Soft Robots Inspired by Cheetahs
Inspired by the biomechanics of cheetahs, researchers at NC State have developed a new type of soft robot that can move faster than previous generations — on solid surfaces or in the water. They can also grasp objects delicately or with enough strength to lift heavy objects. Called “Leveraging Elastic instabilities for Amplified Performance” (LEAP), the robots are able to reach speeds of up to 2.7 body lengths per second at a low actuation frequency of about 3Hz. The LEAP robots can also run up steep inclines.