Japan's earthquake rescue robot (and more) [video]

Japan has a thing for developing cool robots. Nevertheless, these robots always seem to be simply showcased and never really put to practical use.

There have been several mine accidents in the past few years in the US and no robots to assist rescuers in a practical way. A roboticist from CMU who specializes in snake robots even says they are still a few years away from something useful. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8536

Maybe I'm being too critical of these robots, but just seeing them slither on the nice polished Tokyo Institute of Technology floor makes me suspicious that I will never see breaking news in which one of these robots is videotaped as a hero slithering over concrete and bent rebar in an earthquake disaster.

Wow. If anyone here has seen Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex, they'll immediately recognize the 3rd robot shown. It moves very much like the Tachikoma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqz8B-Z6ijM

I particularly like the walking robot that converts into a roller-skating robot.