Robots are finding new ways to get around. The four-legged Roller-Walker has a wheel at the end of each leg, allowing it to switch between its two modes of transportation on the fly — rolling and walking. As it strolls around, each wheel is positioned flat against the ground like a circular foot. When the Roller-Walker deploys its wheels, however, it uses its segmented body to propel itself forward in a graceful, swaying manner that's really a treat to behold.

Being able to switch between walking and skating helps the Roller-Walker move over flat surfaces swiftly, but still gives it options when traversing more difficult terrain. Hirose-Fukushima Robotics Lab has a few videos of the 'bot in motion. — Kevin Hall

Roller-Walker, via Technabob