Back in 1985, the best robotic surgeon we had was the PUMA 560, a manipulator arm just barely more advanced than Rocky Balboa's robo-butler. Just barely. The PUMA was nevertheless revolutionary. It was the very first mechanical operator, progenitor t...
It's the morning after we were reminded that war is hell, sneakers can fit themselves and jingles don't last forever. We also reported on the quiet rise of the high-end tablet and the return of CD piracy. Join us below for everything you might have m...
Nike has some competition. Though the company has gotten a lot of attention for its Back to the Future-inspired HyperAdapt sneakers, it's not the only brand working on self-lacing shoes. Almost a year ago, Puma showed off its own self-lacing sneakers...
In competitive running, pacers are hired runners who run at a pre-determined speed – and therefore time – so that the contestants can gauge their own pace or be motivated to run faster. To push its sponsored runners during training, Puma made Beatbot, a robotic pacer.
You can think of BeatBot as a smart RC car. It’s equipped with a 9-axis accelerometer and infrared sensors to help it follow the lines on a racetrack. To set the robot’s pace, the runner enters the distance they want to run and the time they want to beat in a mobile app. Puma says BeatBot’s maximum speed is just under 45kph (approx. 28mph) – around the same as the personal best of Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive.
Understandably, Puma hasn’t said much about BeatBot’s hardware, but some are speculating that the robot is based on the Traxxas Rustler RC car. It’s a good starting point for anyone looking to make their own robot pacer.
[via Freshness]
For some people, the RunKeeper coach's voice is enough to keep them motivated during a jog. Others need something physical to keep pace with. That's where Puma's BeatBot comes in. Developed by a NASA robotics engineer, a trio of MIT students and Puma...