Lots O' Bots

By Maryanne Murray Buechner; Lev Grossman; Anita Hamilton

THIS ONE'S NO DOG

The Aibo, Sony's toy robot dog, was a huge commercial hit. But it's a quadruped so, by today's standards, no great shakes. Meet Qrio (rhymes with curio), the company's new bipedal "personal agent." More of a corporate showpiece than an actual product (on the market it would fetch about as much as a BMW), Qrio can walk uphill, sing, dance, wave hello, wiggle its fingers and kick a ball with surprising grace. Two digital cameras, one behind each eye, help Qrio map a room for future reference and recognize up to 10 different faces. It can also converse in Japanese. Can you? INVENTOR Sony AVAILABILITY Prototype TO LEARN MORE sony.net

LAP CAT

Studies show that the company of a cat can help keep you calm and happy. This robotic version--known as NeCoRo in his native Japan and Max in the U.S.--is so lifelike in his appearance, responses and movements that Maryland "robo-therapists" Alex and Elena Libin have recommended him for nursing-home residents and dementia patients who could use a pet's love but are unable to care for the real thing. Stroke Max with an open palm or call him by name, and he will purr, turn his head, move his ears and blink his eyes. He can also sit, stretch and "sleep" but never goes looking for a litter box. INVENTOR Omron AVAILABILITY Now, for research only TO LEARN MORE robotherapy.org

MINE SWEEPER

No, it's not a pet you take to the beach. Robo-Lobster, a 7-lb., 2-ft.-long crustacean made of industrial-strength plastic, has a bigger job to do: detecting and destroying mines buried in the surf zone. At least, that's how the U.S. Navy plans to use the robot once developers at Massa Products deliver their final version next year. The current prototype mimics a real lobster's movements to negotiate all types of coastal terrain. The plastic antennas sense obstacles; the eight legs can propel it in any direction; the two claws and tail keep it stable in turbulent water. INVENTOR Don Massa and Joseph Ayers AVAILABILITY Late 2004 (military use only) TO LEARN MORE massa.com

LUCKY, THE ROVING ROBO-RAPTOR

It took 21st century technology to create what nature had by the Triassic period: a free-range dinosaur. Built by Walt Disney Imagineering, this friendly fellow goes by the name Lucky. He's 9 ft. tall, and unlike his animatronic ancestors (which date to the singing birds and flowers in Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room that opened in 1963), Lucky wanders on his own, untethered by any wires and cables. He can laugh, sneeze, smile, yell and sign autographs, and once in a while, he gets the hiccups. What's his secret? His brain resides not in that cute little head of his but in the flower cart he's pulling behind him. INVENTOR Walt Disney Imagineering AVAILABILITY Currently being play-tested TO LEARN MORE disneyland.com