Whether you reference the insane toys of Akira or the companion bot in A.I., I've always thought the bear was the best form for our robot ambassadors to take. Taking us another step in that direction is Hykim the Robot Bear. Originally designed as a response to the call for a Standard Robotic Platform at the RoboCup, Hykim has blossomed into a full-fledged robot with its very own Open Development Platform community. What sets Hykim apart from bots like the Sony Aibo is that it is capable of bipedal and quadrupedal movements, just like a real bear. Pricing for the kit hasn't been released, but if you're ready to make that leap towards creating a real robot buddy, price should be no object.

Via Tribotix