Sci-fi movies like iRobot, Terminator, etc., have created distinct expectations about robots. While robots walking around cities and performing specific tasks appeared nothing short of a fragment of imagination during these film releases, it is now taking shape in reality.
The advances in robotics, AI, and tech have made it possible. While most robots manufactured to date are designed to handle repetitive tasks, some are outright bizarre. Let’s explore the 11 weirdest robots in the world that can make you question their existence.
ARTEMIS
Mechanical engineers at UCLA created this first-of-its-kind robot named ARTEMIS that can play soccer. It is a humanoid robot weighing 85 pounds and standing 4 feet 8 inches tall.
The most notable part of ARTEMIS is it can maintain balance against shoves, heavy kicks, objects thrown at it, etc. It can also run and kick a ball to play games like soccer. ARTEMIS already participated in RoboCup, a soccer competition for robots, and it plans to compete against human World champions by 2050.
Neo Beta
Designed and launched by 1X, California and Norway-based developers, Neo Beta is a humanoid robot prototype that you can begin seeing in homes in the future.
It is a bipedal robot with bio-inspired designs that appears to be lighter and softer than other humanoid robots. Since the robot can perform multiple tasks like making coffee, folding laundry, picking up your backpack, etc., 1X envisions Neo Beta to assist people with their daily household chores. You can consider Neo Beta a robotic version of a full-time household assistant, which is both exciting and unsettling for some people.
SlothBot
Developed by Magnus Egerstedt at Georgia Tech, SlothBot is a solar-powered robot designed to monitor the environment. Developers took design inspiration from real sloths during their trip to Costa Rica.
These robots are placed in natural ecosystems, primarily under tree canopies, to measure microclimate data. While the robot sloth may look cute, it’s incredibly slow.
VERO
VERO is a quadruped robot designed by IIT, Genoa, to clean up litter on beaches and other outdoor areas. While VERO can clean numerous litter elements from grounds, it is particularly beneficial in removing cigarette butts.
VERO has a commercial vacuum mounted on its back to suck the litter from surfaces. When you activate this robot, hoses go down from the vacuum to each foot, and the 3D-printed nozzle puts as much suction as possible to suck the litter without tripping the robot. The sight of robot cleaners roaming around beaches can look like a scene from Netflix’s famous Black Mirror, but it is excellent for keeping the environment clean.
Casio Moflin
Casio Moflin is a robot pet equipped with emotional capabilities. When seen from a distance, it can appear like a real-life animal, but it is a robot covered in soft fur. What’s surprising about this robot is it replicates adorable movements and sounds that real pets’ make. Daily interactions with this robot pet will enable it to develop its personality, and it can get attached to you in a relatively short time.
Aibo Dog
Sony launched Aibo, a friendly, robotic dog that acts similarly to real dogs. Despite being a robot, Aibo is a playful pup with impressive moves. Aibo uses AI to recognize up to 100 different faces, and its personality and behavior evolve based on the owner’s interactions. Like real dogs, Aibo can detect smiles, identify its owner’s face, learn new tricks, and even love being petted.
Desdemona
Developed by Hanson Robotics, Desdemona is a less popular sister of ‘Sophia the Robot’. Desdemona, a.k.a. Desi, is a synthetic humanoid equipped with nanotech skin mimicking natural human features and LLM for a brain. Desdemona envisions becoming a cultural figure and taking human-robot relations a step further. Her ability to change her personality/character over time based on her interactions with humans separates her from similar humanoids like Sophia.
mCLARI
Resembling a spider, mCLARI is a shape-morphing robot capable of walking in laterally confined spaces. This robot can look creepy from a distance but it can aid rescue and search operations during disaster management.
mCLARI has four independently actuated leg modules, interconnected in a closed kinematic chain. It facilitates smooth movements and boosts the robot’s agility. While the robot doesn’t feature any specialized AI processing and requires remote controlling, it serves the purpose of navigating narrow spaces to aid rescue operations.
Ameca
Titled ‘World’s Most Advanced’ humanoid yet, Ameca uses advanced AI technology to react, recognize, and communicate with people. Its facial features have an uncanny human-like resemblance, which can appear creepy to some people.
It is one of the few robots scheduled to make more public appearances and hold more human interactions in the future. Ameca has already traveled to several parts of the United Kingdom (UK), from Cornwall to Edinburgh, and appeared in workshops, made school visits, attended public events, etc., to help people learn more about robots.
Atlas by Boston Dynamics
Boston Dynamics introduced their electric version Atlas robot in 2024 with a comparatively sleek and lightweight design. What surprised people was the range of functions Atlas could perform. From hopping to jumping, twirling to tossing around tool bags- there’s a lot Atlas can do independently. Its impressive dexterity and agility can even make it dance like a pro. This new robot version can use machine learning and upgraded sensors to work in simulated environments without human intervention.
Unitree G1
The Unitree G1 humanoid can take you by surprise with its superior dexterity, range of motions, and functions. Unitree uploaded several videos to demonstrate the robot’s functions, and you can see it jumping, smashing chestnuts with its fist, spinning a stick around like a lightsaber, tossing bread on a pan, etc. It can perform several activities that humans do easily and smoothly. The humanoid is nothing short of a robot straight from a sci-fi movie that you never thought would become a reality.
