The PUMA robot that is faster than Usain Bolt

Wearable tech has evolved to raceable tech, thanks to a NASA robotics engineer, a trio of MIT students and PUMA.

The sports brand, who sponsor the world's fastest man Usain Bolt, have created the training aid for runners called the BeatBot pacing robot. Athletes often train to beat set qualification times, their own personal bests and those of their nearest competitors, however it's difficult to know where you're doing better or worse with the old fashioned stop-watch and coach method. Of course video analysis can often help post-training, but now PUMA have developed this visual aid that provides a live indication.

Users can use an app to set the time that they want the robot to travel at, with the BeatBot even capable of beating Usain Bolt's foot-speed world record of 44.6 kmph (27.7 mph). It's not just for sprinters however, and can be used over longer distances too in order to help set the pace required. 

The BeatBot uses nine IR sensors to scan the lines on the track, whilst speed and distance tracking is enabled by Arduino monitoring the wheel rotations. 

There are also two GoPro cameras fitted on board and LED lights to signal the start of the "race". Even though there is no official release yet this would all point to an expensive product, which is currently only available to PUMA sponsored sports teams and athletes.

Hopefully it is only a matter of time before we can start seeing this technology used by sports clubs and schools around the world to train promising athletes of all ages and abilities to achieve their best.  
Image: PUMA