World's First MotoBot Wows at Robotics Convention

"Finally, the enemy has been defeated," a toddler-sized robot announces to a captive audience inside the convention center in downtown San Jose as it enacts a scene from Star Wars. A few seconds later, it dances to "Thriller," takes a tumble, but gets back on its feet and belts out a song. It's a social robot, one that will even read you your email, and make cute conversation if you want it to. Nearby, the world's first MotoBot, or motorcycle robot, perched on a Yamaha YZF-R1M, does a great job of making regular motorcyclists seem pretty insignificant. Even as it sits still.