Ever since I first heard of the "Cheetah Leg", a prosthetic leg made for running, I have been fascinated. The leg, partly designed upon the leg of a cheetah, it is made to feel as if the runner is standing on the ball of their foot. First introduced in the late 1990's these carbon legs have continued to make advancements, and the athletes using them are constantly breaking records. You can read about the latest technology in a recent New York Times article here.Composite materials are being used in a wide range of applications, but this innovative design and use of carbon I find extremely amazing.
Below is a video from the TED conference in 1998, if you are not familiar with the TED conference, check it out when you have some free time. If you jump to about the 15min mark, you will see and learn about the first edition of these carbon legs.
Photo Credit: Tarique via flicker
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