Make a humanoid robot that can sprint faster than a human

Understanding
Something that can run faster than the fastest human sprinter can run faster than any human. The current world record for the 100m sprint is 9.58 seconds (by Usain Bolt). That would be approximately equal to an average speed of 10.438 \( ms^{-1}\) (metres per second).

A humanoid robot can be defined as any robot that most people making a sensible judgement would agree is sufficiently human-like in shape to be called "humanoid". To be comparable with a human runner, the humanoid robot should also be human-like in size.

Racing the human side-by-side against the robot would allow a more visually and conceptually direct comparision between the two.

Method

 * 1) Design a humanoid robot.
 * 2) Build it.
 * 3) Get it to run.
 * 4) Write a walking algorithm based on the hardware and sensors of the robot.
 * 5) Write a running algorithm which either transitions smoothly from the walking algorithm or picks up to a run from a stationary start.
 * 6) Extend the running algorithm to make it sprint as fast as it possibly can - even so that it springs from a stationary start as quickly as it possibly can.
 * 7) Test its top running speed on a tread mill or a straight track.
 * 8) Improve on that top speed by modifying the coordination of its movements or the power of the robot.
 * 9) Repeat the previous two steps until you have a humanoid robot that can exceed the average speed of a human over the 100m sprint.
 * 10) If necessary, modify the algorithm to allow the robot to sprint around a 400 metre oval, olympic track.
 * 11) Race the robot against the current 100 metre, 200 metre and 400 metre human world champions in a side-by-side simultaneous competition between the two.

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