The researchers at Carnegie Melon University have constructed a robot whose movements imitate that of the green basilisk lizard, otherwise known as the Jesus lizard for its ability to walk on water. According to the researchers, "a legged robot capable of walking across land and water quite literally has the entire world open to it. Applications include exploration and search and rescue in partially flooded or marshlike environments, and of remote controlled toy models which can run anywhere." That's right folks: walking on water is useful only in partially flooded situations and for toys. This four-legged machine might also be good for convincing other robots that it's a robot god.

The robot moves its legs very quickly underwater, driving the rest of its body forward. Hmm… reminds us of a much older human invention: the motorboat. — S.E. Kramer

Carnigee Melon Paper, via Switched