A Chinese team has unleashed a speed demon in the form of a robotic dog, Black Panther 2.0, which has joined the elite “10-second club” of the 100-meter dash. Developed by Zhejiang University and Hangzhou-based startup Mirror Me, this 38 kilogram, 0.63 meter long quadruped robot is redefining what machines can achieve. With a maximum running frequency of five steps per second, it has covered a distance of 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, even surpassing many human runners.

The feat puts Black Panther 2.0 ahead of its predecessor, the Hound robot from Korea’s Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, which completed the same dash in 19.87 seconds. Although it’s still no match for the fastest land animals like the cheetah or ostrich, this robotic marvel is bridging the gap between biological and machine mobility.

Inspired by nature, the Black Panther 2.0 features a biomimetic design that borrows heavily from the animal kingdom. Its carbon-fibre shins, modeled after the jerboa desert rodent, provide 135 per cent more stiffness with only a 16 per cent weight increase, while spring-loaded knee joints mimic the flexibility of the Black Panther’s as shock absorbers. Let’s work. Even its “running shoes” inspired by leopard claws increase grip performance by an impressive 200 percent.

NEW: A Chinese robotics company has unveiled a robotic dog that can cover a distance of 100 meters in less than 10 seconds.

crazy.

Black Panther 2.0, created by Mirror Me, features a robotic dog fitted with spring joints so it can mimic live animals.

Robots can move faster than most… pic.twitter.com/gick5NKJ1F
– Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) 15 January 2025

Powered by AI-powered gait optimization, advanced high-power-density motor drivers and real-time adjustments, Black Panther 2.0 moves with unprecedented precision and fluidity. According to Jin Yongbin, a researcher at the institute, the robot uses Huygens’ coupled pendulum principle for synchronous gait movements, a breakthrough that enables it to walk with the coordination of an experienced runner.

The robotic dog doesn’t bend when unloaded, reaching a top speed of 12.43 mph, a speed that would give some professional athletes a run for their money. However, even at his peak, Black Panther 2.0 is just behind the great Usain Bolt, who still holds the world record for the 100 meters dash of 9.58 seconds – a record that has not been challenged since 2009.

Despite this, the robotic Sprinter represents a significant step forward in robotics, with potential applications ranging from industrial tasks to disaster response. As Wang Hongtao, head of the institute, explains, the project was completed in just three months, reflecting the rapid progress being made toward integrating cutting-edge hardware with advanced software.

With future development in mind, the team aims to bridge the gap between robotic and natural mobility – perhaps one day, Black Panther 2.0 will not only rival Usain Bolt, but out-pace even the fastest animals on Earth .