Robot gift guide 2014

What's the point of living during this time of technological marvels if you can't have a robot or two to help you at work or at home? Here are a selection of robots that walk, fly, scoot around the office, clean up for you and make sure that the temperature is just right.

Beware though, robots being what they are, don't expect this sort of labor to come cheap!

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Picking up dirt might seem like a task that's too low for a robot, but it's one that they are well suited to. And the Roomba 880 is the cutting edge of cleaning. While a robotic vacuum cleaner can't totally eliminate manual floor cleaning, it can certainly make that particular chore less of a chore.

The Roomba 880 is better than previous Roomba models in every way. Better vacuum power. Better dirt pick up. Better battery life. And it needs less maintenance.

Price: $700

Skip boring meetings by sending your silicon double in the form of a Double Robotics' Double Telepresence Robot.

Essentially you stick your iPad on the end of remote control Segway. Sure, it seems weird, but these things are actually catching on.

Price: $2,500

Command from the sky with Steadidrone Mavrick. And don't be fooled into thinking that this can only loft a small GoPro style camera. Oh no. This can take a small DSLR into the sky for you.

Price: From $5,000

OK, all this does is turn your thermostat, but the Nest is still a robot, and it comes at a price that doesn't make your eyes water!

Price: $250

A robot that finally looks like what we envisioned robots looking like in sci-fi. Don't let the goofy look of the Aldebaran Robotics NAO Evolution fool you. This is a professional tool that's finding its way into schools, universities, and businesses.

And because it is a pro tool, it comes with a very pro price tag too.

Price: $8,000

If you use a tablet or smartphone to do a lot of videoconferencing then this is a robot that you might find very useful. You pop your tablet or smartphone in the Swivl cradle and then as long as you carry the supplied grip, the device keeps the camera pointed at you.

Price: From $400