Sprawlita cockroach robot, running outdoors. Sprawlita is a hexapod (six-legged) robot that mimics (biomimetics) the running ability of cockroaches. Each leg is a pneumatic piston powered by compressed air and driven by a servo motor. They move as groups of alternating tripods (two legs on one side and one on the opposite side). This produces a bouncing gait similar to insects and other multi-legged animals. The low, squat body ensures it is stable enough to avoid stumbling over rough terrain. Sprawlita is able to run at 3 body-lengths per second. This compares to cockroaches, which can run at up to 50 body-lengths per second. Photographed in 2005 at Stanford Unversity, California, USA.