The rise of robot waiter

9. Disaster relief workers

The 1.9-meter automaton - complete with glowing NASA logo - was designed in nine months by a team of engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, to help humans during disasters and, as with all the other entrants, will be tested in a series of scenarios it might encounter in extreme situations - driving a vehicle, cleaning debris and cutting through a wall. [Photo/IC]

The scene after disasters such as earthquakes, chemical explosions or floods is always dangerous and complicated. The application of robots can reduce casualties among disaster relief workers, regularly injured by falling buildings or poisonous gas releases.

The first 48 hours are the golden time for rescuing victims after a disaster. Designed to lift heavy things and seek out survivors, robots can rescue survivors much faster than humans.

China has already developed a type of robot that can work in fire, water or even after a nuclear explosion. The robot, developed by Shanghai Jiaotong University, is set to be widely used in rescue work.