[youtube=http://youtu.be/mclbVTIYG8E]
PETMAN isn’t nearly as cute and cuddly as ASIMO. Designed by DARPA-funded Boston Dynamics, the robot was meant as a test dummy for chemical-resistant military clothing. Still, it’s not a bad contender for DARPA’s robotics challenge. The human-sized robot can run, balance itself if pushed, and perform jumping jacks, squats and push-ups. It can even mimic human reactions to chemicals by raising its temperature and sweating.
Pros: Big, strong robot capable of hard manual labor.
Cons: Early prototype lacks vital features such as hands. Also, terrifying appearance could scare disaster victims.