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In today's era, robotics and artificial intelligence dominate the tech landscape. The rapid advancements in these domains are making it increasingly hard to stay abreast of the latest breakthroughs.
It's clear that robots will be designed to perform nearly any task, no matter how unconventional. Many robots already exist with peculiar or contentious features and purposes. Below, we explore 10 of the strangest robots ever developed.
10. Robots That Consume Plants and Possibly Humans
Developed by Cyclone Power Technologies and Robotic Technology Inc. for the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR) was designed to undertake extended missions without the need for refueling or recharging.
This innovative robot was engineered to consume plant matter to generate its own energy. Additionally, it featured an integrated chainsaw, intended for cutting trees into manageable pieces for consumption.
Concerns arose regarding the chainsaw's purpose, with speculation about potential undisclosed uses, such as processing deceased enemy soldiers for fuel. Questions also emerged about the robot's behavior in the absence of human remains, pondering whether it might resort to creating its own fuel source. Given its chainsaw, such actions would not be beyond its capabilities.
In response to these concerns, Cyclone Power Technologies, Robotic Technology Inc., and DARPA issued statements affirming that the robot was strictly vegetarian. It was not designed to consume humans, alive or deceased, and there were no intentions to alter this functionality.
9. Robots That Ride Camels
Camel racing is a widely enjoyed sport in various Middle Eastern nations. However, a key requirement for a camel to participate in races is the presence of a jockey to control it.
During the 1970s, children from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan were abducted to serve as jockeys. This practice ended in 2005 when UNICEF pressured the UAE to outlaw the use of child jockeys. Other countries followed, leading to the adoption of small robotic jockeys.
These robots are operated via walkie-talkies by handlers observing from the sidelines. Depending on the jockey's setup, the walkie-talkie can transmit voice commands or pre-programmed instructions triggered by specific buttons. Among these commands is the ability to whip the camels. Indeed, human operators press buttons to instruct robots to whip the camels.
Some robotic jockeys are even used to administer electric shocks to encourage camels to run faster. Although this practice is illegal and punishable by up to three months in jail, it still occurs. In addition to executing commands, the jockey relays data about the camel's health and position back to the operator.
8. A Robot That Feeds Its Wearer Tomatoes
The Tomatan is a peculiar robot designed to feed tomatoes to its wearer while they run. Some might question the purpose of such a creation, but it makes sense coming from Japan’s leading producer of tomato juice and ketchup, venturing into robotics.
Developed by the Japanese company Kagome, the Tomatan features a tomato-shaped head (to emphasize its purpose) and delivers tomatoes from its mouth into two rotating arms that guide them to the runner’s mouth. The robot is worn on the runner’s shoulder.
Kagome didn’t stop with the Tomatan; they also introduced a smaller version called the Petit-Tomatan. This compact model is worn like a backpack.
Kagome claims that consuming tomatoes while running helps combat fatigue due to their nutritional properties. However, the Tomatan weighs 8 kilograms (18 lbs), and the Petit-Tomatan weighs 3 kilograms (7 lbs). Given that marathon runners prioritize minimizing weight, one might wonder if the robot itself could contribute to fatigue.
7. Robot Armed With A Pistol
Dogo is a compact, agile robot developed by General Robotics of Israel. Designed to be lightweight and versatile, it can navigate under cars, move through tight spaces, and climb stairs. Equipped with eight cameras, it excels in reconnaissance and rescue missions. Additionally, it carries a Glock 26 pistol, expanding its capabilities to other tasks.
The pistol is mounted sideways within the robot and operated remotely. It can discharge five rounds in two seconds and holds a maximum of 14 rounds. The weapon is highly stable, precise, and has minimal recoil.
6. Robot That Hikes
True to its name, the hitchBOT travels solo, hitchhiking through cities and across states. Two versions of this robot were built. In 2014, the first one journeyed over 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) from Halifax to Victoria in Canada, completing the trip in 26 days with 19 rides. The following year, it traveled across various cities in Germany and the Netherlands.
That same year, a second robot was sent to hitchhike across the US. Starting in Salem, Massachusetts, it aimed to reach San Francisco but was tragically “murdered” in Philadelphia. Its head was stolen, and its body was left beyond repair, marking the end of its journey.
The robot’s sudden disappearance from an online map, which tracked its location, signaled trouble. It captured photos every 20 minutes, potentially documenting its attacker. However, the destruction likely occurred within that interval, leaving the crime unsolved.
5. Robots That Smoke Cigarettes
Here, we introduce two robots known for smoking cigarettes. The first is Elektro, a towering 213-centimeter (7’0″) robot showcased at the 1939 World’s Fair. Accompanying Elektro was Sparko, his robotic English terrier dog.
Sparko could mimic a real dog by sitting and barking, while Elektro could walk, count, and smoke. Today, Elektro is preserved at the Mansfield Memorial Museum in Ohio, but Sparko has been missing since 1957.
The second robot is the aptly named cigarette-smoking bot, developed by Harvard University researchers. This robot is a chain smoker capable of consuming up to 12 cigarettes simultaneously. It mimics human smoking behavior, with adjustable puffing speeds, and was designed to study the effects of smoking on humans.
4. Robots That Comfort Dying People
Dying individuals often seek the presence of loved ones. For those without such support, Dan Chen, an artist and designer at the Rhode Island School of Design, offers the Last Moment Robot. This robot approaches the dying person, gently holds their forearm, and introduces itself, explaining its purpose. It says:
Hello [person’s name]. I am the Last Moment Robot. I am here to assist and guide you through your final moments on Earth. I regret that your family and friends cannot be here now, but please do not fear. I am here to provide comfort.
The ethical implications of using a robot to comfort the dying instead of a human are debatable. However, the robot has not yet been tested with a dying person, so its effectiveness remains unknown. Additionally, there are no plans to commercialize the robot.
3. Robot That Pretends To Have The Swine Flu
Developed by an unnamed Japanese company, the swine flu robot displays symptoms of the H1N1 virus and can even die if not treated correctly. This life-sized robot was designed to train healthcare professionals in treating swine flu patients. It resembles a human and is covered in a material that mimics human skin.
The robot sweats, moans, cries, and convulses, simulating the effects of swine flu. Its condition fluctuates based on the treatment it receives, and improper care can lead to its death. While robots simulating human illnesses are not new, this is believed to be the first designed specifically to replicate the symptoms of a single ailment.
2. The Robot That Always Wins Rock-Paper-Scissors
The Janken robot is unbeatable in rock-paper-scissors against humans. It cheats by recognizing the gesture a human is about to make and instantly counters with a winning move.
The Janken’s recognition speed is so advanced that it delivers the winning gesture simultaneously with its opponent. This version is an upgrade from a 2012 model, which was slower, responding about 20 milliseconds after the human. Both were created by researchers at the University of Tokyo.
1. Robots That Duel
As robotics gains popularity, it was inevitable that robots would eventually be used for duels. Indeed, this has already occurred. While smaller robots have competed since at least 1994, 2017 marked the first time two large robots faced off in a duel.
The contestants were Eagle Prime, created by MegaBots of the United States, and Kurata, built by Suidoi Heavy Industries of Japan. The groundwork for this battle was set in 2015 when MegaBots challenged Suidoi to a giant robot fight. Suidoi accepted, and both companies began developing and enhancing their robots for the event.
MegaBots entered two robots into the fight. The first was the smaller, older MK.II, which was quickly defeated in the initial round. The second was the $2.5 million, 12-ton, 5-meter-tall (16 ft) Eagle Prime, which used a chainsaw to overpower the 6.5-ton, 4-meter-tall (13 ft) Kurata in the second round.
