High-jumping robot could aid rescue efforts

An agile jumping robot, inspired by some of the animal world's best leapers, could one day help in rescue efforts after earthquakes or building collapses, US scientists said on Tuesday.

Known as Salto, the 26-centimeter-tall robot can jump higher than a bullfrog and almost as high as a gala-go, or bush baby, a small primate found in Africa.

The robot can jump 1 meter in less than a second, according to a report in the journal Science Robotics. That's better than a human, but not the highest of any robot - other machines have been made that can jump more than 3 meters in a single leap.