TECH – Zhejiang University’s quadruped robot, White Rhino, has officially broken the Guinness World Record for the fastest 100-meter sprint by a four-legged robot. Clocking in at 16.33 seconds (328 feet), it considerably outpaced the previous record of 19.87 seconds, held by South Korea’s robot named Hound.
The record-setting sprint occurred at a testing ground in Hangzhou, eastern China. For comparison’s sake, the human world record remains 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009.
White Rhino was developed through a collaboration between Zhejiang University’s Center for X-Mechanics, its School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center. Its design is the result of a robot-forward design methodology—rather than modifying an existing design, the team simulated every joint and actuator across real-world conditions to optimize geometry, motor characteristics, and mechanics simultaneously.
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This engineering effort yielded high-torque, fast-response actuators—described as racing-grade muscular systems—paired with a dynamic control strategy using reinforcement learning. These features allow White Rhino to coordinate explosive leg movements, maintain stability, and sprint across 100 meters while carrying a payload up to 100 kilograms.
Project leader Professor Wang Hongtao remarked, “This was a very demanding goal… More importantly, it allows us to determine if we are on the right research path.”
Beyond setting speed records, White Rhino’s robust payload capability and agile performance open doors for real-world uses such as rapid search and rescue missions, sensor deployment, or logistics in environments inaccessible to wheeled vehicles or humans.
This innovation underscores the progress in robotic mobility—narrowing the performance gap between mechanical and biological runners. By combining cutting-edge hardware with AI-driven control, White Rhino showcases how robots may soon perform dynamic, load-bearing tasks at human-like speeds across complex terrains.
Source: Interesting Engineering
