Real Robots

#1. Let's take a look at some weak flesh-bag- human replacements, that might seem scary- advanced now, but to future generations will be as laughable as the first mobile, a 5in floppy disk, and those damned Furbies are to us now.

#2. PETMANPETMAN, created to test protective clothing for extreme situations, has become so much more. He’s able to walk like a man, run like a man, and even jump like a man. You can push the big fella and he’ll balance himself out to keep on walking. We suspect he’s made for more than clothes testing – perhaps a future race of robot soldiers who don’t like being pushed about? Yes, that’s much more exciting.

#3. yt-ts= &feature=player_embedded&x-yt- cl= #t=0 yt-ts= &feature=player_embedded&x-yt- cl= #t=0 Ball games take on a whole new definition with Sphero, the smartphone controlled rolling robotic ball. Hook this explorative sphere up to your Android device and use a selection of gaming apps to play with the ball or simply draw routes on your phone and watch Sphero obey your fleshy commands.Sphero

#4. A sub-aquatic robo-fish might not sound that useful without a spear-gun and a whole bunch of attacking sharks. In reality it could help save our oceans by hunting down and reporting pollution. Robo-fish will constantly patrol harbours – in teams if their AI deems the threat necessary – keeping track of any chemicals that may be leaked by vessels, a great deal better than current once-a-month checks.robo-fish

#5. cl= &v=EfNlI3jT8DE&feature=player_em bedded&x-yt-ts= #t=0 cl= &v=EfNlI3jT8DE&feature=player_em bedded&x-yt-ts= #t=0 There’s something a bit creepy – no, terrifying – about robots that look like people, and not just because we’ve watched Blade Runner too often. In the case of the Geminoid-DK, it’s the lifelesss, serial killer eyes that really push us over the edge. All in the name of research, too.Geminoid-DK

#6. 0&feature=player_embedded&x-yt- cl= &x-yt-ts= #t=0 0&feature=player_embedded&x-yt- cl= &x-yt-ts= #t=0 Robots that were humanoid used to have two legs, two arms and a head. That was where the resemblance ended. The Actroid has moving eyes, an expressive mouth and a human voice. And she’s all the more fear-inspiring for it.

#7. wo&feature=player_embedded&x-yt- ts= &x-yt-cl= #t=0 wo&feature=player_embedded&x-yt- ts= &x-yt-cl= #t=0 The world’s most famous non-fictional bipedal robot (if that’s not too much of a niche) has been a regular attendee at tech events since his birth in In 2006, he took a spectacular spill in Tokyo. Yeah, we’re mean enough to include it here.spectacular spill in Tokyo

#8. ts= &v=rSKRgasUEko&x-yt- cl= &feature=player_embedded#t=0 ts= &v=rSKRgasUEko&x-yt- cl= &feature=player_embedded#t=0 The land speed record for robots (yes, such a thing exists) was held by an MIT robot from 1989 until a few months ago. In May, Boston Dynamics smashed the 13mph target with the Cheetah, a quadrapedal bot that can do 18mph on a treadmill. BD plans to test it in the open later this year, at which point you might want to change your name to Lunch.Boston Dynamics smashed the 13mph target with the Cheetah

#9. This humanoid might not be able to hold a candle up to Rebecca Adlington in the fast lane, but a swimming robot is still an impressive feat and the first step to a water-based robot invasion. Created by a team at Tokyo Tech, its 20 waterproof motors are designed to measure the forces required for different swimming strokes (and beatings).humanoid

#10. Who needs radioactive spiders when science is there to save the day? This little fellow can climb anything from walls and trees to fences and other textured surfaces, all thanks to its six electric motor-powered legs. Just don't get scared and spray it with Raid. It's probably worth a lot of money.little fellow can climb anything