MIT researchers have achieved yet another leap in robotic development by programming their cheetah robot to jump hurdles as it runs. According to the Institute's news office, it is the first four-legged robot to run and leap over obstacles completely on its own. To jump, the robot detects an obstacle in its path, estimates its distance and height, then adjusts its stride to push up and over the object. During experiments the robotic cheetah successfully cleared 18-inch tall hurdles. Check out the video here.