Photos: RFID robots

Secom's Robot X is a security robot that can run as fast as humans and scare away intruders by spraying white smoke. It's designed for use at spacious places such as airports and factories and will be leased for 300,000 yen per month, starting next fiscal year, Secom said. The four-wheeled robot is about one meter long and high and weighs 120 kilograms.

Cyril Brignone, a researcher in the RFID and sentient environments department at HP Labs in Palo Alto, Calif., hooks up an indoor location-sensing device, part of a robot-free inventory tracking system that utilizes radio frequency and ultrasound.

Accenture says that its "sensing robot," which is just a prototype at this point, could help companies make their supply chains more efficient and prevent loss of inventory.