This robot form the University of Pennsylvania is modular in it’s design and will reassemble itself if something happens to it (like being kicked apart by a graduate student. Robots have come a long way. These are some amazing examples of where we are today. But they are still a long way from a sack of smart sand or grey goo, nevertheless it is still amazing (and sometimes scary) to watch them do the things they can do.
Here are some other amazing robot feats:
want to make your own? hacknmod has the answer. using open source software and easily obtainable hardware you too can have your own self balancing robot.
someone even made a simpler version of the concept above that doesn’t use any microprocessors at all! http://www.instructables.com/id/Balancing_Robot/
If you want something bigger, that can carry a man, and doesn’t mind if you try to kick the sh*t out of it then this is the one for you. Big Dog can give you big nightmares, just imagine that thing coming at you, armed! It is after all a DARPA funded project as many robot projects are.
want more robots? check out the best of 2008