The day of living like the Jetsons, mechanized maid and all, gets closer all the time. Here are 10 great robots, some of which are even available to the public.
Number 10. Honda's Asimo. The humanoid robot stands a bit over 4-feet and weighs in at 119 pounds, but its developers have packed a whole lot of functionality into its modest frame. Asimo can do sign language, play soccer, and even serve drinks.
Number 9. Kuratas. If you've ever dreamed of being the pilot of a great big robot, this is your chance. Located within its 13-foot tall frame is enough room for an onboard commander. Oh by the way, it can be controlled with an iPhone.
Number 8. Atlas. Commissioned by the Pentagon, and engineered by Boston Dynamics, this disaster rescue dynamo is built to perform the heroic task of saving lives without risking its own.
Number 7. Termite Robots. These little guys are designed to do tough, tedious building work and their way of working was inspired by termites. The bots assess their environment, take cues from one another, and get to work even though they haven't a clue of the bigger plan.
Number 6. Cheetah Cub. Wanting to know how to make robots take control of tough terrain with the grace of a feline, scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology made a robotic cat. Using it, they can assess joint force and agility without having to harm an actual animal.
Number 5. WildCat. Not to be confused with the aforementioned Cheetah Cub, the WildCat is the newest generation of Boston Dynamics Cheetah robot line. These machines are made for speed, traveling up to 29 miles per hour. While previous versions were indoor sorts, this one is suited to run free.
Number 4. VGo Virtual Student. Stuck at home with a severe immune disorder, a student in Texas is now able to attend classes thanks to a robot. She can power the virtual version of herself via internet and participate in what's going on thanks to a webcam.
"Miranda suffers from a weak immune system that doesn't allow her to attend class in person but thanks to this robot pilot program she's back in the classroom."
Number 3. Robo-Fly. It's tiny and fast, weighing only 80 milligrams and flapping it's wings up to 120 times per second. Once technology advances and can make it a battery small enough, the robotic insect is predicted to be a helpful tool in search and rescue missions.
Number 2. The Mab. It flies around your house, senses where it's dirty, and then deploys a bunch of tiny little cleaning bots to make the area sparkle. It's just a concept, but was enough of one to win the Electrolux Design Lab competition.
Number 1. Curiosity. NASA's Mars rover has accomplished far more than any other robot can imagine so to speak. It's only been on the Red Planet for about a year and a half, but has already determined that there could have once been life there.
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