Although we have yet to experience the dreaded robot apocalypse, autonomous robots are definitely on the rise. But there's nothing to fear (yet), the vast majority of these robots are designed to make life easier and more fun for humans.
Most robotic research focuses on tackling one specific problem, such as building better hardware, performing a specific task, or implementing new algorithms. But when building autonomous robots, all these elements need to be combined into a single system so that the end result is a machine capable of performing helpful tasks in a real-world setting.
Whether they're surveying the sky for threats, diving in the ocean to clean up pollution, patrolling your living room for dirt, or playing soccer to entertain audiences, autonomous robots here to help solve the worlds problems and make life more enjoyable.
39 Awesome Autonomous Robots
39
Robotic Ocean Custodians
The Veolia Marine Drone Swims Around Collecting Trash in the Sea
38
Robot Soccer
Androids Dream of Soccer Glory
37
Base-Jumping Bots
Disney's Paraswift Can Safely Jump from Almost Any Point
36
Police Spy Drones
UK Police Introduce Microdrones
35
Autonomous Robotic Planes
MIT Team Builds Camera-Free Plane That Can Navigate Using Sensors
34
Robotic Racing Bikes
The Detonator Motorycle is Too Dangerous for Human Racers
33
Race-Recording Robots
Drones by Sebastian Russ Keep on Athletes' Heels for Photo Ops
32
Spybot Deployment
The gMAV ‘Flying Beer Keg' Heads to Iraq
31
Robot Guard
Samsung's Sentry Robot Kicks Ass
30
Kamikaze Drones
The New Switchblade UAV Uses Self-Destruct Tech to Engage Enemies
29
Autonomous Robotic Wheels
The Carrier Wheelchair Ensures User is Completely Independent
28
Sailing Oil Spill Saviors
The Protei Project Offers a Solution for Cleaning the Currents
27
Grocery-Bagging Robots
Stanford University's Incredible PR2 Robot is an Android Checkout Cle
26
Lawn Trimming Droids
Cutting the Grass is a Cinch With the Bosch Indego Robot Mower
25
Flying Spying Robots
The US Navy MQ-4C Triton is an Airborne Stalker
24
Mechanical Insects
The University of Bielefeld's Hector is a Mechanical Crawler
23
Domestic Spy Drones
Rover is a One-Bot Surveillance Team and is Controlled by Your Phone
22
Personal Female Androids
Luna the Robot by RoboDynamics Makes Domesticated Work Easy
21
Maid Machines
Anna Karmazina Creates a Bathroom-Cleaning Robot
20
Cyborg Pledge Collectors
The DON-8r Fundraising Robot is the New Sidewalk Canvasser
19
Bell-Shaped Butler Bots
RoboDynamics Luna Robot Has Been Engineered to Serve the Masses
18
Fashion Model Robots
The HRP-4C Is Japan's Answer to Unaging Female Models
17
Robotic Space Ants
The Mars I-SWARM Project
16
Robot Nurses
uBOT-5
15
Chore-Aiding Androids
The HOMANT Robot Manager Keeps Your Home in Tip Top Shape
14
Language Learning Droids
The iCub DeeChee Develops Vocabulary by Interacting With Humans
13
Shark-Tracking Droids
The Surfing Robot Finds Great Whites off California
12
Uncanny Valley Androids
The Hasegawa Bot Learns, Thinks and Behaves Like a HumanBeing
11
Upgraded Urban Androids
The AlphaDog is Almost Ready for Military Deployment Abroad
10
Killer Drones
X-47B ManHunter is Packed With Advanced Weapons (Oh My!)
9
Medical Assisting Droids
The ED-7270 Robot Provides Much Needed Support in Hospitals
8
Daycare-Aged Robots
Japanese Researchers Develop 'Pneuborn' Robots to Study Babies
7
Fundraising Androids
DONA the Panhandling Robot Outsources Donation Solicitation
6
Android Astronauts
NASA's Robonaut 2 is Assisting Operations in Space
5
Robotic Running Buddies
'Joggobot' is a Flying Device that Flies by Your Side While Running
4
Robust Rescue Robots (UPDATE)
The Vecna Robotics 'BEAR' Packs on More Power
3
Drum Machine Robot
Autonomous Robot Makes Music With Its Surroundings
2
Hospitality Bots
The CIROMI Robot by Ed Corporation is the First Theater Android
1
First-Rate Riding Robots (UPDATE)
The Murata Boy and Girl Ride into Innovation
Related Ideas
Couture Disney Characters
The Vogue Princesses Series Brings High Fashion to Classic Beauties
Sci-Fi Street Bikes
The Parker Brothers Lightcycle is an Exclusive 'TRON' Replica
Menacing Mech Designs
Markus Vogt Renders Badass Looking Robots & Machines
Photoshopped Athletic Attacks
The Shark Olympics Series is Dangerously Competitive
Dazzling Disney Tattoo Designs
Timothy John Shumate Illustrates Vibrant Princess Body Art
Scowling Cartoon Kicks
The adi-RISE Mickey X Brings Style with an Attitude
House of Mouse Street Shoes
The Adidas Originals Superstar Mickey II X Shows Disney's Dark Side
Dutch Touch Eco-Cycles
The Ophiro Electric Motorcycle is Classy and Clean
Helicopter Bicycles
The FBike Concept Allows Long Leaps to Avoid Traffic Congestions
Human-Powered Motorcycles
The Tesla E-max Runs on Human Body Heat
Couture Toy Robots
The Gundam Astray Model Features Louis Vuitton Emblems
Italian Stallion Superbikes
Hanif Maraei's Ferrari FXF Pays Homage to the Iconic Car Company
Retro Rocket Motorbikes
The 1929 Jet Engine Motorcycle Claims to be the Only One of Its Kind
Sun-Soaking Submarines
The Reef Explorer Surveys the Sea Without Harming Marine Habitats
Shape-Shifting Robotic Art
Federico Diaz's Outside Itself Responds to Light and Movement
18 Wicked Warship-Inspired Innovations
From Kitschy Kicks to LEGO-Frigates
Retro Race-Ready Motorcycles
Madella Simone Updates the Classic Peugeot 515 for the 21st Century
Boxy Vintage Motorbikes
The Lea-Francis Cafe Racer Pays Homage to Motorcycles of the Early 1900s
Digital iPhone Dogs
The Bandai SmartPet Transforms a Smart Phone into a Loveable Companion
Expressive Disney Jeans
CLOT ‘Mickey Mouse Patch' Denim Pays Homage to a Cartoon Favor
Demilitarized Commercial Aircrafts
The Lockheed Stratoliner is Fiercely Futuristic and Green
Customized Disney Figurines
CLOT x Disney Reimagines the Iconic Mouse in an Artistic Fashion
Cute Functional Minibots
Bronze Kinetic Robots from Monocomplex are Adult Toys
Game Boy Robots
The Game Boy LEGO Transformer is Any Geek's Triple Threat Combo
Humanized Disney Characters
E. D. Thweatt Takes Away the Animal Traits of Your Favorite Cartoons
Underwater Shark Viewing Cars
The ‘Volkswagen Beetle Mobile Shark Cage’ is a Submerged
11 Robotic Animal Companions
From Dancing Robot Pets to Robot Animal Therapy
Robotic Grocery Gofers
The Electrolux AMMI Fetches Food from the Supermarket for You
Miniature Future Fighter Jets
Autonomous Nano Quadrotors are the Most Futuristic Invention Yet
Caged-In Motorbikes
The Hyundai Concept Motorcycle is Inspired by Musculature
Gargantuan Android Models
Len Komonac Designs an 8 Foot Tall R2D2
Upcycled Functional Robot Sculptures
The Joseph Drust Steampunk Minions Perform Simple Tasks
Handicapable Autonomous Autos
The Wheel Chair Mobility Independent Concept is for the Paralyzed
Icy Futuristic Photoshoots
Zuzanna Stankiewicz by Felix Lammers is Coldly Ethereal
Sci-Fi Platform Concepts
The Puma 'Speed Kitty' Heels Concept Brings Electric Color to Sport Heels
Hybrid Fighting Machines (UPDATE)
The DTV Jackal is Stealthy and Capable of Destruction
Spherical Floating Gardens
Skyfarm by Manuel Dreesmann is Made for Balconies
Smartphone Controlled Helicopters
The Griffin HELO TC Assault Helicopter
Boat-Boarding Bots
The Reconrobotics Recon Scout Throwbot Battles Piracy
Online Sci-Fi Show Promos
Battlestar Galactica Online Game Pays Homage to TV Series
Metal Shark Sculptures
Stuart Peterman Industrializes Sea Creatures
Underachieving Robot Renderings
Lunchbreath Illustrates Humorous Comics Based on AT-AT Puns
Smartphone Piloting
The AR.Drone Makes Unmanned Flight an Everyday Possibility
Remote-Controlled Video Cameras
The Shift Concept Camera is Designed for Viral Video Makers
Shocking Sea Creature Charts
The 'Status of the Shark' Infographic Offers Some Jaw-Dropping Facts
Race-Recording Robots
Drones by Sebastian Russ Keep on Athletes' Heels for Photo Ops
Augmented Reality Army Glasses
The DARPA Hologram Goggles Make Calling in Air Strikes Easier
Robotic Dog Walkers
The Luna Personal Robot by SchultzeWORKS Will Take Your Pup Around the Block
Kamikaze Drones
The New Switchblade UAV Uses Self-Destruct Tech to Engage Enemies
Shark-ified Dark Lords
The Great White Voldemort Gallery is Full of Underwater Wizardry
Remotely Controlled Limbs
The Handroid Robot Hand is Operated by a Glove
Terrifying Aquatic Creature Graphs
The 'Anatomy of a Shark Attack' Infograph Does Not Relieve Fear
Sailing Oil Spill Saviors
The Protei Project Offers a Solution for Cleaning the Currents
Swiftly Assembled Micro Abodes
The Horden Cherry Lee Micro-Compact Home is Built in Four Minutes
Taser-Armed Toys
The ShadowHawk is an RC Helicopter That Fights Criminals
Profane Plastic Robots
The Talking Bender Action Figure Tells it Like it Is
Couture Terminator Photoshoots
The Harper's Bazaar May 2012 Haily Clausen Editorial is Robotic
Robot Punchbags
Punchbag Pro Adds Fun to your Daily Workout
Robotic Lawn Mowers
The Robomow Cuts the Grass for You
Thought-Controlled Computing
Ariel Garten Explains Her Emerging Technologies for TEDxToronto
Whimsical Otherworldly Illustrations
These Graphic Designs by Steven Courtney are Playful
Attack-Ready Clothes Hampers
The Shark-Shaped Laundry Basket Will Gobble Your Dirties
Grocery-Bagging Robots
Stanford University's Incredible PR2 Robot is an Android Checkout Cle
Printable Doppelgangers
CloneFactory Uses 3-D Printers to Reproduce Your Exact Likeness
Emotionally Evocative Game Advertisements
Theory Interactive's Reset Game Trailer is Cinematic
DIY Robot Cleaners
TheCorpora 'Q.bo' Can Keep Any House Tidy
Robotic Baked Goods
The BakeBot Gives You a Hand in the Kitchen
Gaming-Inspired Robotic Cleaners
The Halo Robot Vacuum Cleaner Cleans with Voice Commands
Mechanical Insects
The University of Bielefeld's Hector is a Mechanical Crawler
Charismatic Cleaning Gadgets
The Cocorobo Vacuum is Packed with Personality
Militarized Motorcycles
The Secret Weapon Boss Hoss is Decked Out in Full Battle Rattle
Autobot Vino Holders
The Transformer Wine Rack Fights off Sobriety and Decepticons
Smartphone-Controlled Fake Pets
The OMNIBOT i-SODOG Lets You Raise a Dog via Your iPhone
Colossal Solar Columns
EnviroMission's Solar Tower is Bigger Than the Empire State Building
Domestic Spy Drones
Rover is a One-Bot Surveillance Team and is Controlled by Your Phone
Disney Parody Tolkien Tees
Mordor is 'The Happiest Place in Middle Earth' to be In
Digitalized Droid Kegs
Paul Carff's Kegdroid Gives Way to the Future of Bartending
Edible Pixel Art
The Fruit Plotter Will Replicate Art Pieces Using Fruit Pellets
Personified Metal Toys
Nono Muak's Glambots are Chic Robot Characters
Alien-Inspired Aircraft
The Spherical Observation Drone Resembles a UFO More Than a UAV
Cyborg Sea Creatures
The SHOAL Robotic Fish Helps Detect Pollution in Oceans
Iphone-Controlled RC Cars
The iKon RC Car is Controlled Using an Apple App
Flame-Extinguishing Robots
The 'Fire-Fighting SAFFiR' is Wide-Eyed and Ready for Action
Remote Controlled Dueling Droids
The Takara Tomy Battroborg 20 Mimics Your Movements in the Ring
Cyborg Pledge Collectors
The DON-8r Fundraising Robot is the New Sidewalk Canvasser
Bell-Shaped Butler Bots
RoboDynamics Luna Robot Has Been Engineered to Serve the Masses
Robotic Birds
The Festo Automated Smartbird Mimics Actual Avian Movement
Iconic Director Phone Ads
The Wes Anderson Sony Commercial Promotes Innovation Through Imagination
Topsy Turvy Helicopter Propellers
The Upside Down Ceiling Fan by Raffaele Iannello is Industrial
City-Dwelling Constellations
The Urban Stargazing Project Brings Nature to the Metropolis
Superstar Androids
Celebrities Gather at the FIRST Robotics Championship to Support Robotics
Robotic Rap Dancers
Dance Party Robot Brings the Party to San Francisco
Battery-Operated Canine Companions
The Go-Go Dog Pal Gives Pooches Something to Chase
Multi-Retina Disney Toys
Three-Eyed Mickey Figure Introduces the Character's Oddity
Clandestine RC Cars
The iRobot 110 Turns Video Game Concepts Into Reality
Uncanny Valley Androids
The Hasegawa Bot Learns, Thinks and Behaves Like a HumanBeing
Copter-Made Structures
This 20-foot Building Was Made With Flying Quadrocopter Robots
Transformer Designer Timepieces
adFunture x G-Shock Converts Watches into Kick Ass Robots
Radiation-Immune Worker Robots
Japanese Government Turns to ASIMO to Secure the Fukushima Core
Upgraded Urban Androids
The AlphaDog is Almost Ready for Military Deployment Abroad
Rexcellent Robots
Create and Activate Your Own Remote Control Dinosaur
Skynet-Inspired Auto Ads
The Dodge Charger 'The Future of Driving' Ad Declares War on Machines
Live Jaws Training
The UStream Shark Cam for Shark Week is Live Footage of Awesomeness
Raygun-Toting Killer Fish
Sharks with Lasers is a Brilliant Idea
Virtual Feline Companions
The iPet Companion is a Robotic Device That Keeps Your Kitten Busy
Robotic Kitchen Helpers
The Armar-III is a Self-Learning Household Helper
Daycare-Aged Robots
Japanese Researchers Develop 'Pneuborn' Robots to Study Babies
Fundraising Androids
DONA the Panhandling Robot Outsources Donation Solicitation
Mechanical Moves Competitions
The iRobot Roomba Dance Contest Will Award Three Smart Vacuums
Recycling Robots
Automaton Finds Recyclable Goods Amongst Construction Refuse
Charitable Transformer Memory Sticks
Incubot USB Flash Drive Helps Japanese Earthquake Victims
Robotic Museum Tracks
The 'Artobots' Audio Tour Hack Reworks the Chamberlain Guggenheim Exhibit
Emotional Androids
Kitware Intends to Roll Out Computers and Robots That "Understand"
Elderly-Feeding Robots
Isao Wakabayashi's Meal Assistance Robot Helps Care for Seniors
Impromptu Android Affairs
The OkCupid App Will Facilitate Random Hook-Ups and Chance Meetings
Droid-Dodging Car Ads
The New 2011 Dodge Charger Ad Rejects Robot Domination
Baking Bots
MIT's Mario Bollini Programmed the PR2 Robot to Make Cookies
Sand Snake Robots
Researches at Georgia Institute of Technology created a robot for disasters
Smartphone Steering
This BlueDrone Remote-Controlled Car Will Revive Your Inner Child