La guerra ya no es lo que era. Estados Unidos ha enriquecido sus arsenales con creaciones como el robot Cheetah, controlado por ordenador y diseñado para desplazarse por terrenos peligrosos o tortuosos. Pero lo más notable del felino es su velocidad, superior a la de un soldado de infantería. Los gatos sobre el terreno y los "abejorros" (drones) en el aire son parte de la fauna bélica estadounidense que se prueba en las guerras de Afganistán e Irak. Para más información consultar "Scientific Américan".
Is This Robo Cat The Future of Battlefield Recon?
Nimble robots like this Cheetah will help the military navigate terrain too rocky for wheels
By Larry Greenemeier
THE CHEETAH relies on a control computer to provide stability and on a flexible spine to regulate its gait.
Running Robots: See Boston Dynamics's Speedy Cheetah in Action [Video] .In the decade since the start of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the military has relied increasingly on robots. Drones and bomb-removal bots have been designed to keep troops out of harm's way. Now the U.S. Department of Defense is looking for sleeker, faster robots that can assist with a wider range of missions.
The Cheetah, is one of the new breeds under development. Real cheetahs, which can sprint up to about 120 kilometers per hour, are the fastest-running animals; the robot, made by Boston Dynamics in Waltham, Mass., reaches nearly 30 kilometers per hour, making it the fastest-legged robot.