Puma's BeatBot

Puma's new BeatBot keeps pace with any runner. 

The BeatBot follows lines around a track at any pace you want. It can even match Usain Bolt's 2009 foot-speed world record of 44.6 KPH (27.7 MPH). This shoe-box on wheels is designed to push runners by giving them a real visual target to beat. Runners can enter the time and distance of the race they want, put the robot on the starting line next to them and go. The BeatBot paces out the programmed race, allowing runners to race against their own best time or challenge themselves against a faster time.

JWT New York executive creative director Florent Imbert said, "We found a lot of anecdotal evidence that head to head competition raised performance levels, even a few studies that showed an uptick performance. But, to us, it felt like a human truth. Running against an invisible clock will never be as motivating as running against someone -- or something."

Imbert goes onto say, "We went through over eight prototypes, and interrogated every aspect of the robot, from the weight of the car, to the lag between the Arduino and servo. We even enlisted the expertise of NASA robotics engineer and three MIT grads."

The BeatBot scans and follows the line on a track using nine infrared sensors, while wheel rotations are monitored to measure both speed and distance. That data is then processed in real-time, to make more than 100 maneuvers per second to stay on the line, navigate bends, and cross the finish line at the pace you've programmed. It's outfitted with rear LED lights so you can see the BeatBot in your peripheral vision as it creeps up on you, and GoPro cameras on the front and back allow you to review your run after the race or upload it to YouTube.

Usain Bolt may like it as you can see in Puma's Motivational YouTube Video, but chances are you won't be racing against BeatBot anytime soon. Right now it's only available to Puma sponsored athletes and teams. Which is too bad because I was really wishing I could give a go at Usain Bolt's 2009 World Record just to see how much faster he is than I could ever be.