A new robotic running feline built at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is called the Cheetah-Cub. Weighing a little over 2 pounds it was created to replicate the same size of a house cat.

A new robotic running feline has been outlined in the International Journal of Robotics Research. Built at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, it is called the Cheetah-Cub.

Weighing a little over 2 pounds and measuring approximately 8 inches, it was created to replicate the size of a house cat. The purpose of the Cheetah-Cub is to allow researchers to see how animals move and how robots can handle rough terrain.

They also want to learn how much force is present in a living creature’s joints. The lead author of the study stated “Biologists cannot directly observe because you cannot cut into the leg of a living animal without harming it. It's possible to recreate it with a robot, and then you can actually change the conditions.”

Equipped with four feet, the Cheetah-Cub can trot on a flat surface similar to a feline. It can even take on slightly difficult obstacles like stairs.

The robot can travel 3.1 miles per hour. How do you like it?