25 best real robots

Geminoid-DK

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.

Actroid

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.

Honda ASIMO

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 2000. In 2006, he took a spectacular spill in Tokyo. Yeah, we’re mean enough to include it here.

Boston Dynamics Cheetah

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.

Aldebaran Robotics Nao

Someone call Asimov. The Nao is capable of lying, according to this video clip in which he bins his mate’s rubber duck, then denies all knowledge. In a more edifying turn, he’s also the robot of choice for the Robot Soccer World Cup (or Robocup), a mantle Nao took over from Sony’s Aibo in 2007.