Photos: A robot world

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  • Robot rescue

    Robot rescue

    The Xtreme VGTV from American Standard Robotics is designed to climb over rough terrain. Recently, these robots were used in Biloxi, Miss., to enter flooded houses and take pictures, which helped rescue workers identify if beams and other support structures still existed. The machine costs about $30,000.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Rising robot

    Rising robot

    One of the experimental humanoid robots from Kyoto University. Royal can kick a ball, lay down and stand up on its own from a lying position.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Build your own

    Build your own

    Alan Federman, a former NASA robotics specialist, is trying to get kids interested in building robots by showing how they can be built out of household stuff. "Everything except for the control system you could get at Home Depot or a junk yard," he said. He's also working on one that could be operated with commands from a mobile phone. He used wood because the first model, crafted from PVC pipe, cracked.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Robo-player

    Robo-player

    This robot, from a hobbyist, uses a Nintendo Game Boy as its processing unit. The robot can navigate along a black line or chase a nerf ball.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Build your own bot

    Build your own bot

    Carnegie Mellon University developed these robots to show how bots can be built out of wood and other ordinary items. A kit costs about $3,000.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Battlefied bot

    Battlefied bot

    The PackBot from iRobot. It can climb stairs and carry a camera on its arm. A few have been "killed" in action in Afghanistan.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Bot building blocks

    Bot building blocks

    A robot made of Legos determines the perimeter of a black circle. Lego has created several robot kits for educational purposes in its Mindstorms program.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Battling bots

    Battling bots

    Let the battle begin. This 1-pound robot fights others by wedging underneath them and flipping them over. Other robots come with rotating blades and bulletproof glass. Weight classes range from a pound to more than 200 pounds.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Bot doubles

    Bot doubles

    Danger, Will Robinson! Don't be fooled. This is actually a mock-up of the Lost in Space robot. You can also buy body doubles of Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet and C3PO.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Robo army

    Robo army

    Fear not the Robonova-I from Hitech Robotics. The $1,000 robot, coming out in about 30 days, can perform a number of tricks.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Little helper

    Little helper

    Robert Fisher and Michael Sohn, juniors in Cupertino, Calif.'s Homestead High School, show off a robot they made that can pick up small objects.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

  • Homebrew bot

    Homebrew bot

    This robot, which earlier roamed at Burning Man, expresses a common sentiment at Robonexus.

    Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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Homebrew bot

This robot, which earlier roamed at Burning Man, expresses a common sentiment at Robonexus.

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

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