Once upon a time, the word “robot” was from the sci-fi genre. At that time, they were only depicted in movies and books as something we dreamed was real.
But robots were invented much earlier than you might think. There are accounts in the middle ages of devices that could technically be classified as robots. This was due to a design that allowed them to move independently and perform basic tasks. While impressive pieces of machinery, they were not robots in the same way we think of them today.
Whether you know it or not, there are now robots for almost everything. A lot of homes have an Echo Dot, but Alexa is far from the only — or the most advanced — robot currently available.
A huge number of industries rely on robots as well, from entertainment to medicine. A robotic lifeguard named E.M.I.L.Y. was credited with making more than 77,000 rescues. Meanwhile, robots are making new things possible in the fields of disaster prevention, space exploration, and environmental protection.
They’re no longer something just from the movies. The age of robots is here and there’s no limit to what they can do.
1. Sophia
Sophia the robot looks so realistic, you might mistake her for a human. She can hold intelligent conversations and learn from her experiences. She even has citizenship in Saudi Arabia.
The Panasonic Robot Egg might have a funny name, but it’s an amazing piece of artificial intelligence. It’s intended to work as an office assistant, complete with voice-control technology and video playback capabilities.
You’ve heard of drones delivering packages, but a company called Starship Technologies has taken the idea even further. Their line of delivery robots is self-driving, capable of delivering packages up to two miles.
Smart assistants for homes have been around for a while, but Olly is something completely new. This robot develops a unique personality based on your interactions, schedules, and requests. That means every Olly is unique to its user.
Robots are being used in every facet of human life. Samsung Bot Care helps people who need in-home care. It can perform many household tasks, as well as remind owners to take medication and pulse readings. It can even dial 911 in the event of an emergency.
Remember back when Segways were the ultimate cool in new technology? Loomo is the Segway for the new generation, complete with video capture capabilities, AI functions, voice response, and automatic tracking.
If its appearance isn’t cute enough, the makers of Asus Zenbo market it as a “friend” for your household. Not only does it have entertainment functions, but it can also monitor your security system, connect to smart devices, and take pictures.
Pillo is another robot that serves as a home healthcare provider — or at least an artificial one. It tracks food consumption throughout the day, dispenses medication on a set schedule, and performs other in-home tasks for individuals who need assistance.
If there’s one thing Gita Bot proves, it’s that you can turn anything into a robot. This is a traveling storage case programmed to follow its owner on errands. You’ll never have to carry a shopping bag again.
The Toyota T-HR3 is a robot designed to look like a human — and for a very specific reason. Its function is to perfectly mimic the motions of the operator from a remote location. That means it has enormous potential for use in disaster areas.
Aeolus is marketed as a robot that can bring you a beer from the fridge. It’s a home assistant that can tidy your house and help you find lost possessions. It’s also programmed to continually learn.
Kuri isn’t just a general-purpose assistant, it’s a robot designed to become an integral part of your home. That includes working as an entertainment system and camera. It can even react to sounds and touches and it indicates its “mood” through color changes.
The idea of having a butler is cool enough, but imagine having one that’s a robot. Walker can climb stairs, maintain your home security system, fetch items, and host video calls. Oh, and it can dance, too.
REEM is another service robot designed to serve and entertain humans. It can perform receptionist tasks, do chores, navigate through spaces independently, and interact with others. It can also give speeches and dance.
The LG Rolling Bot, as the name implies, rolls to navigate around your home. Its function is to capture pictures and videos, whether for personal or security purposes. While away from the house, you can connect to your phone to live stream the video.
Cruzr is an experiment to determine the potential of humanoid robots. Its joints and internal maneuvering functions allow it to move almost like a human. It can also greet people using human motions like handshakes, hugs, and other gestures.
Imagine having RoBoHon as your smartphone if choice. With a call screen in its stomach, it can send and receive calls, project images, and move independently.
ASIMO was considered a major breakthrough in the development of humanoid robots. With real-life hand dexterity, it can run forward and backward, jump, and walk up and down stairs. It’s also equipped with voice recognition and action prediction capability.
One of the potential uses for robots entails caring for the elderly. Romeo allows aging adults to maintain personal autonomy longer than they normally can. It opens doors, does housework, provides care plans, and fetches objects.
This robot’s name gives it away — Robonaut is what it sounds like, a robot astronaut. It’s designed to work with astronauts on space stations. With hands that have more dexterity than human hands wearing gloves, it often enhances capability.
Some developments in robotics might make you wonder if you’re in a sci-fi story or a horror movie. With the face of Albert Einstein, Albert HUBO is a perfect example. While it’s a little freaky, there’s a point to it: this robot captures accurate facial expressions and walks on two legs.
Leonardo might be unpleasant to look at, but it’s actually a breakthrough in the world of robotics. It was built by animatronics experts to make intricate gestures and facial expressions. It can perform tasks through trial and error, as well.
Anyone who hates doing laundry, get ready to rejoice — now, there’s a robot for that. Foldimate folds your clothes once they dry, which means all you have to do is put them away…until there’s a robot for that, too.
Robart III was developed by the United States Navy as a security bot. It’s equipped with a gun and an army of spider bots. It also has motion detectors, ideal for detecting building inhabitants.
The Roomba, which has become a household name in the last decade, is enjoyed by thousands of people who love clean carpets. While it wasn’t the first robot vacuum cleaner, it was among the earliest successful ones.
The Edinburgh Modular Arm System is a testament to all the possibilities of robotics. It was the first full bionic arm, with delicate sensors working together to provide an experience that’s incredibly realistic.
The name might be a giveaway: Buddy’s a companion robot for families. It has entertainment functions and can schedule appointments, provide reminders, and help in the kitchen. You can also use Buddy to make video calls and secure your home.
If you think an 11-foot-tall robot might make you nervous, you haven’t seen T-52 Enryu. In addition to its height, it can rip cars apart and lift as much as 1,100 pounds. But it’s not just for fun — it was developed to assist in emergency situations.
SlugBot gets its name because it’s designed to…well, hunt slugs. If that confuses you, let’s clarify: it’s designed as a hunter bot complete with vision sensors and reaching arms. The initial prototype happens to hunt slugs.
If robots can do housework and hunt animals, it stands to reason they can brew coffee, too. With the Cafe X robot coffee bar, you can order your coffee without ever talking to a barista. Introverts, rejoice.
The use of robots in medicine has the potential to revolutionize the outcome of surgeries. The da Vinci Surgical System uses robotic instruments and a collection of cameras that allow surgeons to operate remotely. The result? More precise work and quicker healing time.
S-bots are a team of independent mini-bots that work together. Much like robotic ants, they form chains to bypass obstacles or lift heavy loads. Even so, the potential of S-Bots for future use remains a mystery.
One of the biggest challenges of exploring the oceans is that humans can’t withstand immense pressure. That’s where the Autonomous Benthic Explorer, or ABE, comes in. It can be submerged up to 15,000 feet to gather samples and record its findings.
Considering the incredible diversity of robots, it shouldn’t be surprising that one can cook for you. The Moley Robotic Kitchen can prepare meals, clean up its workspace, and even learn new recipes.
Packbots were designed for use in the U.S. military. They help assess potentially dangerous situations before sending in soldiers. Packbots came to national attention after September 11, 2001, when they searched for survivors in the collapsed towers.
Exploring the deep sea and saving lives is amazing, but what about dancing? A Japanese expert unveiled a ballroom dance android partner in 2005. This robot can dance with a human partner and even follow their lead.
Imagine being able to physically put yourself in a distant location, all while sitting in your living room. Ava Robotics designed a robot that makes telepresence possible. It all comes down to a combination of video calling and remote mobility.
You’ve heard of robots that can roll and robots that can walk on two legs. But the Personal Satellite Assistant is made to help astronauts, which means it needs to fly. Or perhaps more accurately, it needs to propel itself through deep space.
Honda P2 was one of the earliest biped robots. At 6 feet tall and 462 pounds, it can climb stairs and regulate its movements, paving the way for later models like Asimo.
Spirit and Opportunity achieved things we once couldn’t imagine. They were the first robots to touch down on Mars, sending data back to researchers on Earth. Launched in 2003, the rovers were expected to last only three months. But Opportunity lasted until 2010 and Spirit until 2018.
Forget about having a human nanny. NAO makes it possible to hire a robot nanny for your children. Well, maybe not quite, but it is marketed as a family companion capable of teaching kids skills like multiplication.
Robots are also in development to help children who struggle to understand social skills and interactions. Milo assists parents and therapists in teaching children with autism how to recognize emotions and other social cues.
One day, you may be able to choose between getting a cat, dog, goldfish, or robot. AIBO was a line of robotic pets that could interact with humans, even playing with them. But perhaps most amazing was their ability to learn from their environment.
There are infinite potential uses for robotics in the world of medicine. The Ekso GT comes from Ekso Bionics and designed specifically for victims of spinal injuries and strokes. These robotic suits allow people to walk independently with the support of a machine.
Jibo is marketed as “the world’s first social robot for the home,” and it may be an indication of how the future of home assistants will look. Jibo’s equipped with facial recognition and can perform tasks such as organizing your schedule and taking pictures.
Imagine the robots you’ve seen in Anime cartoons. Now imagine they’re real. HRP-4 is a humanoid robot designed to look like those classic ones. But beyond its cool appearance, it has a greater range of motion than most humanoid bots.
Double allows you to experience teleportation — or at least the closest we can possibly get to it. You can video conference a remote location and then move around through the use of remote controls.
Bionic limbs are amazing, but they have certain limitations. Deka offers more precision and dexterity than ever before, even allowing users to perform delicate motions like using silverware.
You’ve heard of humanoid robots, but few look as human-like as HRP-4C. Nicknamed Miim, this bot is used in the music and entertainment industry. Its abilities to sing and dance are beyond the range of any robot in the past.
Pepper was designed, its makers say, with the sole purpose of making people happy. It is made to recognize human speech patterns and facial expressions. This all means that it can recognize and respond to how you’re feeling.
While there’s been more than one robotic dog, Spot might just be the most advanced version. Just like its real-life counterpart, it has four legs. But most interestingly, this robotic pet contains a sensor that helps it navigate on rough terrain.
Real bees are masters of engineering, communication, and teamwork. Just imagine the amazing abilities of robotic bees. RoboBees conduct complex algorithms to communicate and plan together. They also have the potential to help the environment in significant ways.
Some robots provide aid to disaster sites while others are simply meant to become friends. That’s what Kiki is: a robotic “pet” that provides companionship. It’s outfitted with facial recognition technology and the ability to learn about its owner’s personality.
The Gulf oil spill was an environmental disaster that prompted researchers to make better cleanup plans for the future. That’s where Seaswarm comes in. It’s a team of robots designed to absorb oil from the water using a coordinated and continuous system.
The WildCat is yet another quadruped bot designed for military use — though for what, we’re not sure. Its official use hasn’t been announced. But it can run up to 16 miles per hour and haul enormous loads, making it useful for military transport.
You know about the Roomba but what about your hardwood and tile floors? That’s where Mint comes in…this robot sweeps and mops. As it works, Mint tracks its space to create an internal map.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone bring you snacks? That’s what Snackbot does. It also knows how to move through crowds in a polite and considerate manner, as well as navigate around barriers.
You may never see another robot that looks so eerily human, which is the point. The Actroid is designed to look as realistic as possible, breaking down any future barriers for humanoid robots.
Being a lifeguard is a vital but dangerous job. But now, there’s a robot version. E.M.I.L.Y., or the Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard. This robot uses sonar to detect underwater disturbances. To date, it’s already made thousands of rescues.
The Bocco Emo is a caregiver robot that does more than just take care of patients. It’s meant to be a compassionate caretaker that can read and respond to emotions while still providing home healthcare for senior citizens.
It seems ironic that some robots are made to learn more about humans. Or, more precisely, to learn about humanoid robots. The iCub can interact with and learn from its environment. It can also adjust its motions to improve hand-eye coordination.
Imagine a robot that can replace a teacher in a classroom. Programmed to “sound smart,” Kiro can teach kindergarten classes with lessons, interactive videos, and educational songs.
You might wonder…what’s the point of a robot snake. But experts could make a robot that can move like a snake — including coordinating “muscle” groups to swim and climb. That’s amazing.
Spirit and Opportunity may have come first, but Curiosity was the most beloved. The rover landed on Mars in 2012 to explore the planet and determine whether it had a habitable environment for microbes.
Human limitations make exploring the ocean extremely difficult. DepthX is a robot that makes it possible to navigate and research deep underwater caverns. It can descend much further than humans and map underwater spaces.
DOMO is what we all picture as the coolest robot of the future. It’s made to be the life of the party, interacting with humans, fixing drinks, and having fun. When the party’s over, it can also clean up.
If you thought real ants were cool, wait until you see the Festo robotic ants. Designed by a company devoted to developing robotic versions of animals, these “ants” can coordinate and work together like real insects while working independently.
The Pillar Learning Codi is made to be your child’s coolest new friend and learning buddy. With lights and color changes, it can tell stories, sing songs, and teach lessons. Its content is constantly updating to provide new material.
If you dislike talking to store employees, you can look forward to the future of retail. The Bot Retail serves as an artificial employee to provide customers with directions and information. There are also versions for restaurants.
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70 real-life robots that seem like they’re straight from a movie
Cedric Jackson
01.21.20
Once upon a time, the word “robot” was from the sci-fi genre. At that time, they were only depicted in movies and books as something we dreamed was real.
But robots were invented much earlier than you might think. There are accounts in the middle ages of devices that could technically be classified as robots. This was due to a design that allowed them to move independently and perform basic tasks. While impressive pieces of machinery, they were not robots in the same way we think of them today.
Whether you know it or not, there are now robots for almost everything. A lot of homes have an Echo Dot, but Alexa is far from the only — or the most advanced — robot currently available.
A huge number of industries rely on robots as well, from entertainment to medicine. A robotic lifeguard named E.M.I.L.Y. was credited with making more than 77,000 rescues. Meanwhile, robots are making new things possible in the fields of disaster prevention, space exploration, and environmental protection.
They’re no longer something just from the movies. The age of robots is here and there’s no limit to what they can do.
