Image via Complex Original
Whether it's an asteroid, nuclear war, climate change, or the sun destroying us in billions of years, the world will end one day. But, what's going to come quicker? Climate change could take its toll in a century or two, and nuclear war could spark at any moment. Yet, there could already be a ticking time bomb sitting in our labs: robots. We are constantly improving upon these machines, and they'll keep getting more refined, this year, and the year after next. "More and more, they are also beginning to imitate—and look like—humans," writes John Markoff in a recent New York Times story. "And they are beginning to perform tasks as humans do, too." There may come a day when robots will surpass humans in intelligence and ability, something we call the Singularity, or, the day SkyNet comes self-aware. Here are The Most Mind-Blowing Videos That Prove Robots Will Rule Earth One Day. Be prepared.
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Petman
Watch PETMAN in action if you're ready to have some nightmares for the next week. It has sensors embedded in its "skin" that can detect chemicals leaking through the suit, and Boston Dynamics placed the robot in protective clothing designed for hazardous environments, which only makes it look even more human.
Robotic Arm
When Nigel Ackland lost his arm in an accident, he became a candidate for this robotic replacement. It moves with Terminator-like precision, and is made of aluminum and alloy knuckles. It's a great advancement in technology and will help a great number of people years down the road. There are some scientists who believe that we may one day be able to upload our brains into a computer, and theoretically live forever that way. This could be the first step: combining machine and man in one body.
iCub
The European iCub can see and hear, and has a sense of awareness of its own body and movement. If you think little kids are creepy, a robotic one isn't going to help.
CaMEL
Northrup Grumman developed this bad boy, called the CaMEL. Not exactly the most badass name out there, but whatever. It stands for Carry-all Mechanized Equipment Landrover, and will mess some people up on the battlefield.
Sand Flea Jumping Robot
This little robot looks like one of the RC cars you played with as a kid. But it packs a way bigger punch. Seriously, check out how f-cking high this thing can jump. Which means 20 years from now, you'll never be able to outrun a robot.
Paul
Not all robots have to spell out the apocalypse for humanity. Paul is a robot that can draw pictures of humans with surprising accuracy, as it does here at the Tenderpixel Gallery in London.
Cheetah Robot
The Cheetah Robot was built to be thirsty, and the only thing that can quench its thirst is human blood. Nah, not really, but if it did want your blood, there's no way you could out run it. Boston Dynamics developed it to be able to run at 23.3 MPH, which is a little bit faster than Usain Bolt.
Tentacle Robots
Over at the FRAC center in France, there's a petting zoo with your worst nightmares: tentacle robots that hang from the ceiling, and that can respond to your touch. The robots have Kinect sensors that allow them to track where a person is, and they can get angry at certain responses.
Atlas
Atlas, developed by Boston Dynamics, is a humanoid robot that can cross rough terrain while maintaining its balance. And it can still stand on one leg when it's hit from the side. You're only choice is to keep running.
WildCat
Boston Dynamics is the king of crazy freakin' robots. The WildCat is one of the trippiest things I've seen. It's wobbly, four-legged body can run at speeds upwards 16MPH, and can use bounding and galloping gaits. It takes a minute to find out what its front and back is, which adds to its weirdness.
Notice how the dudes run away before that thing starts up.
