Meet NASA's RoboSimian Robot

A weird-looking robot could save your life one day. Take NASA's RoboSimian, for instance. The strange four-legged robot, which looks like a cross between a spider and monkey, recently competed in the DARPA Robotics Challenge Trials. The competition was created in response to the 2011 Fukushima disaster and evaluates a robot's abilities to carry out basic disaster-relief tasks. RoboSimian's unique design allows it to walk on all fours or fold in its hind quarters and wheel around wielding its two dexterous arms for clearing debris and turning valves. More info, including video, at Space.com.

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