Method-2, A Giant Manned Robot, Can Be Yours For $8.3 Million, Maybe By Next Christmas

The "world's first manned bipedal robot," made by South Korea's Hankook Mirae Technology, took its first small steps in South Korea this week, and with it made a giant leap in the future of robotics. Such robo-suits have long been a part of popular imagination through cinematic experiences in films and anime such as Iron Man, Gundam, Pacific Rim and Avatar among many more. However, at 13 feet tall (approximately 4 meters) and weighing 1.5 tons, with each metal arm weighing 286 pounds, the robot called "Method-2" is far more astounding than comparable CGI renditions. Significantly, the creation of such a robo-suit -- that gives the humans piloting them enhanced abilities -- represents the revolutionary and potentially limitless applications of such a technology. With improvements, the technology could one day be used for construction and demolition work, rescue operations, or even deep sea and space exploration.