They're being called the world's first "living robots." But what, exactly, does that mean? Designed by a supercomputer, xenobots can move toward a target, form a group to push pellets to a central location, and self-repair. But they're made entirely from frog stem cells. But for now, these biological blobs are little more than a proof of concept.

Since making its first public appearance last October, Sharp Corp.'s humanoid robot smartphone, RoBoHoN, has created a lot of buzz. But the eye-catching 19.5-cm-tall robot, which can walk, talk and dance but still works as a phone, has also left many people wondering why a phone and a robot should be bundled together, and what Sharp's long game is. As it turns out, Sharp is dead serious about the project. Officials say the firm thinks a robot phone could be the next big thing -- in fact, as big as the smartphone boom. The company is even envisioning a science fiction-like future in which everyone will carry his or her own robot phone that doubles as a personal assistant.