Robo-runner quicker than Bolt!

A two-legged robot that can run faster than Olympic champ and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt has been unveiled by researchers. The Raptor, which can even dodge obstacles, was created by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Kaist) and has a balancing tail and blade legs similar to those used by amputee athletes.

The design helps the robot to reach a top speed of 28.58mph – faster than Bolt’s record-breaking sprint speed of 27.44mph.

However, the Raptor is not the fastest robot in the world. This accolade goes to the Boston Dynamics Cheetah, which gallops at more than 29mph. The Boston Dynamics Cheetah has four legs rather than the Raptor’s two.

Kaist researchers were inspired by velociraptors, the dinosaurs that had a starring role in blockbuster film Jurassic Park.

The Raptor robot, which is made of light-weight composite material and weighs about 12kg, uses one motor per leg and relies on an Achilles tendon system for shock absorption and energy recovery during motion.