Run With A Robot

Sport apparel brand, Puma, has released the Puma BeatBot, a small, box-shaped device that races against humans to improve running times.

The BeatBot is equipped with an accelerometer, infrared sensors that help it follow track lines, an Arduino microcontroller and a front facing camera, the BeatBot counts the revolution of its wheels to track speed and distance.

Using real-time tracking data, the robot can help long distance runners pace themselves and help sprinters push to new targets all controlled by an iPhone app that lets the user set their own time and distance running goals.

Goals can be racing against friends’ best times or champions, the BeatBot is also programmed to match the speed of Usain Bolt, Olympic 100 metre champion, reaching speeds of up to 44.66km per hour.

At this point, the BeatBot is just a prototype and only available currently to Puma-sponsored athletes.

The original article can be found here.