Cheetahs to Inspire Better Artificial Legs?

Don't look for seeing-eye cheetahs anytime soon, but the big cats may help disabled people in another way—by inspiring better artificial legs.

© 2009 National Geographic (AP)

Unedited Transcript

Almost a standing start to a headlong sprint.

Zero to 65 five miles per hour in just a few paces is simple for this cheetah.

Shiraz is one of a group of cheetahs under close scrutiny from scientists at the Royal Veterinary College's Structure and Motion Laboratory.

These researchers are hoping that by discovering what makes the cheetah the fastest land mammal in the world they'll discover the key to more sophisticated ways of dealing with lameness in animals, designing safer horse and dog tracks, helping humans run faster and designing human prosthetics.

Force panels slotted flush into the ground of the cheetah's compound are able to carry out minute measurements.