Boston Dynamics Cheetah Tops Usain Bolt Peak Sprint at 28.3 MPH

Cheetah Robot runs 28.3 mph; a bit faster than Usain Bolt — Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics

Boston Dynamics demonstrated that its DARPA-funded quadruped can outrun the fastest human split times on a laboratory treadmill, clearing the baseline for untethered outdoor field testing next year.

AI-assisted summary of Cheetah Robot runs 28.3 mph; a bit faster than Usain Bolt — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published:

Key ideas

  • Boston Dynamics' experimental Cheetah robot achieved a peak speed of 28.3 mph during laboratory treadmill trials, breaking its previous record. (0:00)
  • The quadruped's top speed surpassed Usain Bolt's peak 20-meter split speed by approximately 0.5 mph. (0:00)
  • Funded by DARPA, the treadmill setup uses offboard power to test extreme quadrupedal locomotion, leg coordination, and spine articulation. (0:00)
  • Boston Dynamics plans to transition from the tethered treadmill rig to an untethered outdoor variant early next year. (0:00)

Detailed notes

## Background Published on YouTube by Boston Dynamics on September 5, 2012, this demonstration highlights the DARPA-funded Cheetah robot breaking its previous running speed record. According to the description, the quadruped reached 28.3 mph on a treadmill powered by an offboard source, outpacing Usain Bolt's top split speed ahead of planned outdoor untethered testing.

## TL;DR The video documents high-speed laboratory evaluations of Boston Dynamics' experimental Cheetah robot sprinting atop a specialized treadmill. Tethered to an offboard power system, the quadruped successfully accelerates to a peak speed of 28.3 mph, exceeding Usain Bolt's top 20-meter split by roughly 0.5 mph. The trial highlights the platform's advanced leg coordination and spine articulation under high-velocity conditions. This successful run established a baseline for the untethered outdoor variant scheduled for development early the following year.

## Atmosphere & style Propelled by driving, dramatic background music, the video creates an intense and awe-inspiring laboratory atmosphere. Watching the mechanical quadruped sprint at blistering, record-setting speeds delivers a striking sense of raw kinetic power and robotic agility. The demonstration maintains a sharp, focused technical tone before concluding abruptly with a brief, understated spoken 'Thank you.'

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Boston Dynamics' experimental Cheetah robot achieved a peak speed of 28.3 mph during laboratory treadmill trials, breaking its previous record. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) The quadruped's top speed surpassed Usain Bolt's peak 20-meter split speed by approximately 0.5 mph. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Funded by DARPA, the treadmill setup uses offboard power to test extreme quadrupedal locomotion, leg coordination, and spine articulation. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Boston Dynamics plans to transition from the tethered treadmill rig to an untethered outdoor variant early next year.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Cheetah is an experimental quadruped robot engineered by Boston Dynamics. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) The development and testing of the Cheetah platform received funding support from DARPA. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) The robot reached a peak sprinting speed of 28.3 mph on a specialized treadmill. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) At 28.3 mph, the robot ran approximately 0.5 mph faster than Usain Bolt's fastest 20-meter split. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) The current laboratory iteration relies on an offboard power source rather than onboard batteries. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Tethering and laboratory treadmill setups allow researchers to safely study extreme quadrupedal running dynamics. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) The platform serves as an experimental testbed for high-speed leg coordination and spine articulation. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) The high-speed indoor trials establish a performance baseline for future untethered legged robots. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Boston Dynamics scheduled outdoor testing of a free-running, untethered version to begin early the following year.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA&t=0s) Cheetah Robot Sets High-Speed Quadruped Record

The demonstration opens with driving, dramatic music as Boston Dynamics showcases the Cheetah robot during high-speed laboratory trials. Developed with funding support from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the experimental quadruped is shown sprinting atop a specialized treadmill with an offboard power source. The trial documents the machine accelerating beyond its previous performance marks, ultimately reaching a top speed of 28.3 mph—roughly 0.5 mph faster than Usain Bolt's peak 20-meter split speed—before the video concludes with the brief spoken closing, “Thank you.”

This laboratory treadmill configuration serves as an experimental testbed for evaluating extreme quadrupedal locomotion, spine articulation, and leg coordination under offboard tethering. The high-speed milestone marks the final phase before moving the platform outside, with Boston Dynamics preparing to initiate testing on an untethered, free-running outdoor variant early the following year.

- **Developer & Funding**: Engineered by Boston Dynamics under funding from DARPA. - **Peak Velocity**: Reached a top speed of 28.3 mph, surpassing the human running record set across Usain Bolt's fastest 20-meter split by approximately 0.5 mph. - **Testing Setup**: Operated on an indoor treadmill rig supported by offboard power and safety tethers. - **Development Roadmap**: Serves as the development baseline ahead of untethered outdoor field testing planned for early next year.

## Mentioned Boston Dynamics, Cheetah Robot, DARPA, Usain Bolt

## Video description Cheetah Robot is a fast-running quadruped developed by Boston Dynamics with funding from DARPA. It just blazed past its previous speed record, getting up to 28.3 mph, about 0.5 mph faster than Usain Bolt's fastest 20 meter split. This version of the Cheetah Robot runs on a treadmill with offboard power. Testing on an untethered outdoor version starts early next year. For more information about Cheetah or the other robots we develop, visit www.BostonDynamics.com.

[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chPanW0QWhA)

中文简报

波士顿动力Cheetah机器人以28.3英里时速超越博尔特巅峰冲刺速度 波士顿动力展示了其由DARPA资助的四足机器人可在实验室跑步机上超越人类最快分段速度，为明年的无缆户外实地测试奠定了基础。 视频记录了波士顿动力实验性Cheetah机器人在专用跑步机上进行高速冲刺的实验室评估。在连接外部动力系统的情况下，该四足机器人成功加速至28.3英里/小时的峰值速度，比尤塞恩·博尔特最快的20米分段速度快了约0.5英里/小时。该试验展示了该平台在高速条件下的先进腿部协调和脊椎关节运动。这次成功运行为计划于次年年初开发的无缆户外版本奠定了基准。 波士顿动力的实验性Cheetah机器人在实验室跑步机测试中达到了28.3英里/小时的峰值速度，打破了其此前的纪录。 (0:00) 该四足机器人的最高速度比尤塞恩·博尔特最快的20米分段速度快了约0.5英里/小时。 (0:00) 该跑步机装置由DARPA资助，使用外部电源来测试极限四足运动、腿部协调和脊椎关节运动。 (0:00) 波士顿动力计划在明年年初从有缆跑步机装置过渡到无缆户外版本。 (0:00)

Reading summary

Boston Dynamics demonstrated its DARPA-funded Cheetah robot achieving a top speed of 28.3 mph during indoor treadmill testing, eclipsing the peak split speed of the fastest human sprinter. Record Sprint Velocity on Tethered Treadmill (0:00) During laboratory trials conducted on a specialized treadmill, the experimental quadruped accelerated past its prior performance benchmarks to reach a peak velocity of 28.3 mph. This speed is approximately 0.5 mph faster than Usain Bolt's maximum recorded velocity during his peak 20-meter split. The trial operated with safety tethers and an offboard power supply to support the high-speed run. Locomotion Research and Outdoor Transition Roadmap (0:00) Developed with DARPA funding, the treadmill apparatus functions as an experimental testbed for analyzing quadrupedal locomotion mechanics, including leg coordination and spine articulation under offboard tethering. Boston Dynamics characterized this milestone as the baseline phase of development before transitioning the platform to an untethered, free-running outdoor model scheduled for testing early the following year. The trial was confined to an indoor laboratory rig dependent on offboard power, leaving the platform's stability and speed in free-running, untethered outdoor environments to be determined in subsequent evaluations.

精炼阅读摘要

根据Boston Dynamics的测试记录，其实验性四足机器人Cheetah在实验室跑步机测试中达到了28.3英里/小时的最高速度，在峰值速度上微弱超越了短跑运动员尤塞恩·博尔特（Usain Bolt）。 突破峰值速度与超越人类纪录 (0:00) 由DARPA（美国国防高级研究计划局）资助、Boston Dynamics工程开发的Cheetah四足机器人，在高速实验室试验中刷新了自身的速度纪录。该机器人最终跑出了28.3英里/小时的峰值速度。该测试数据与尤塞恩·博尔特的最快20米分段速度相比，高出了大约0.5英里/小时，标志着四足机器人在极限奔跑速度上达到了新的水平。 实验室内置环境与技术验证目的 (0:00) 本次破纪录的测试是在专门配置的室内跑步机平台上完成的。为了确保安全和持续供电，Cheetah依赖机外电源并配备了保护绳索。该试验台主要用于评估极端条件下的四足运动机制，重点研究机械脊柱的关节运动与腿部协调性，为后续复杂动态控制提供基线数据。 从实验室束缚迈向户外自主测试 (0:00) 虽然目前展示的高速性能依靠系留绳索和外部供电，但Boston Dynamics表示该阶段测试是进入户外场景前的最后准备工作。团队计划在次年年初推出无缆绳系留、能够在户外自由奔跑的原型变体，以验证脱离实验室跑步机环境后的全自主四足动态奔跑能力。 该项速度记录是在外部供电和安全缆绳保护的实验室跑步机环境中取得的，其实际的户外自主奔跑能力与稳定性仍有待次年年初计划开展的脱缆实地测试进一步检验。

Original transcript

[0:00] *Dramatic music* Thank you. *music*