Through countless failed experiments, meticulous adjustments, and unwavering persistence, a research team from the renowned Zhejiang University has pushed the speed of Black Panther, the world's fastest quadrupedal robot, to a stable 10 meters per second.
Weighing 38 kg and standing 0.63 meters tall, the four-legged machine has set a new record for a quadrupedal robot by achieving an impressive sprint speed of 10 meters per second - nearly matching the fastest run by a 100-meter human sprinter.
However, the path to this breakthrough was far from smooth.
Early trials had shown that while computer simulations suggested the robot's speed could exceed 10 meters per second, real-world tests consistently capped it at 6 meters per second. Beyond this threshold, the robot's legs would snap under the pressure, causing it to collapse.
"In every attempt to surpass 6 meters per second, the robot's legs would break. Once a leg broke, it couldn't transfer the ground's force to the rest of the body, causing the robot to fall," said Jin Yongbin, a researcher at the humanoid robot innovation institute at Zhejiang University's Hangzhou Global Sci-Tech Innovation Center.
One of the most dramatic failures occurred in August 2024, when the robot's entire body broke apart during an experiment.
"The front and rear legs, made of carbon fiber tubes, completely snapped. That was when we realized we needed to improve the hardness without adding too much weight," Jin recalled.
Through these failures, the team drew inspiration from both human and animal structures, leading to crucial improvements in the robot's design. They borrowed elements from nature, such as the jerboa's bone structure, to enhance the robot's ability to resist external forces.
"Animals like the jerboa rely on the fusion of their bones to withstand external impacts. For Black Panther, we made a small change to its legs - adding a carbon fiber rod in the middle. This coupled the parts together, allowing forces to be transmitted more effectively, thus improving the overall strength of the robot. Since then, the robot's lower legs no longer break," said Jin.
Another key innovation was adding springs between the leg joints, which allowed the robot to mimic human-like movement by cushioning each step. This not only reduced the impact on the body but also improved energy transfer during movement.
"With the same motor and configuration, the robot could only reach a speed of 8 meters per second with completely rigid legs. By introducing springs, we were able to boost the speed to 10 meters per second," Jin explained.
However, the research team did not rest on the 10 meters per second record. They are now focused on pushing the robot's speed to 15 meters per second. The ultimate objective is not just to increase speed but to enhance the robot's overall capabilities.
"Through high-speed testing, we gain deeper insights into the system, and this knowledge will help refine the design and application of quadrupedal robots in civilian use," said Jin.
China's fastest four-legged robot breaks speed record through tireless innovation
