Forget about Optimus Prime and Megatron! Swiss experts have developed a four-wheeled robot that can rear up on its hind legs and spin like a performing poodle. Developed by ETH Zürich spin-off Swiss-Mile, the agile bot that can reach speeds of up to 14 mph (23 kph) is the latest iteration of the'ANYMal' robot concept. The design -- which superficially resembles Boston Dynamics' robot dog, Spot -- has previously been shown using its AI to get back up after being kicked over. In a newly-released video, the robot is shown not only performing its standing trick, but also wheeling along and taking ascending and descending steps in its stride. Forget about Optimus Prime and Megatron!

AI Technology giants such as Google, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft are increasingly attracting attention for their investment in artificial intelligence and taking huge steps for AI future. Investment in artificial intelligence in 2013 was $700 million. However, that figure tripled to $2.4 billion in 2015, said CB Insights, a research firm working on the technology sector. Cb Insights said 140 companies working on artificial intelligence have been acquired since 2011, and 40 of those acquisitions occurred this year. Google, IBM, Yahoo, Intel, Apple, and Salesforce are the top investors in artificial intelligence, according to the company's report.

A robot dog design armed with a 6.5 mm Creedmoor sniper rifle capable of precisely hitting targets from 3,940 feet away has been unveiled at the US Army trade show. The'Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle' (SPUR) is the brainchild of Philadelphia-based Ghost Robotics and arms manufacturer SWORD International of Sparks, Nevada. Placed on top of one of Ghost Robotics' existing'quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle' designs, SPUR can be remotely instructed to load, unload and fire its rifle. The firms have yet to reveal the exact configuration of the weapon, nor how much ammunition the machine is capable of carrying or its reload rate. However, tests have shown that the 6.5mm rounds used in the Creedmoor rifle offer an increase in range over the 7.62x51mm cartridges currently used by US forces. It is also presently unclear how much each robot unit and SPUR attachment will cost to purchase and maintain.

Hyundai has a new site safety officer at one of its Kia assembly factories in South Korea -- Spot, Boston Dynamic's famous and oft-dancing robotic dog. In fact, the'Factory Safety Service Robot' has been upgraded with applied artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation and various remote sensing technologies. The robot can also be taken control of remotely and securely, allowing office personnel to observe and survey parts of the factory from a central location. Starting with a pilot operation in one factory, the augmented Spot will support late-night security patrols and create a safer environment for plant workers. Should this trial prove to be successful, Hyundai has said that it will look to expand the robot's patrol areas and consider deployment to additional sites. Hyundai hasa new site safety officer at one of its Kia assembly factories in South Korea -- Spot, Boston Dynamic's famous and oft-dancing robotic dog, pictured Hyundai has upgraded Spot with a thermal camera and three-dimensional LiDAR sensing technology.

Flying geckos are able to use their tails to stabilise their landings after crashing into trees at speeds of up to 13 miles per hour, a new study has revealed. A drone based on the remarkable crash landing capabilities of the small lizard opens the door to future airborne robots that can land on walls or upside down, according to the developers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart. They discovered that the colourful creatures use their tail to stabilise themselves after gliding head first into a tree trunk, stopping them falling to the ground. Corresponding author Dr Ardian Jusufi said structures similar to gecko tails could stabilise drones during a landing on a vertical surface. This could lead to robots that can land in inaccessible places, helping search and rescue after a landslide or building collapse, or during military operations, they said. Geckos' climbing abilities give them agility rarely surpassed in nature.

Xiaomi's CyberDog is smaller and much lighter than Boston Dynamics' original - standing at just 15.7 inches and weighing only 31 lbs, compared to Spot's 24 inch stature and 72 lb heft.

Spot can carry loads weighing up to 14 kg on its back. It stands up when it falls and works in temperatures between -20 and 45 degrees Celsius. It has a range of 90 minutes and a maximum speed of 4.8 km/h. The robot can move according to the instructions given to it, avoid obstacles and maintain its balance in extreme circumstances. It is also water resistant, making it a fairly versatile work tool.

A four-legged, robotic guide dog system that can safely lead blind people around obstacles and through narrow passages has been developed by US researchers. Just like a real assistance canine, the bot guides its user by means of a leash -- which it can pull taut but also allow to go slack in order to better lead around tight turns. The setup -- built on a robot design called a mini cheetah -- features a laser-ranging system to map out its surroundings and a camera to track the human it is guiding. Given an end point to reach, the machine maps out a simple route, adapting its course as it progresses to accommodate obstacles and the handler's movements. The robot has the potential to cut down on the time and expense of training guide dogs -- although, they would lack the mental and social benefits of a real animal. According to lead researcher and roboticist Zhongyu Li of the University of California, Berkeley, the training of mechanical guide dogs would be scalable.

Boston Dynamics' robot dog, Spot, has been seen in hospitals, at crime scenes and space rocket testing facilities, but the latest sighting occurred as it strolled down a Florida beach while attached to a leash. A video surfaced of a woman walking a mechanical canine she named'Scrappy' down the street and along the pier in Fort Pierce while hundreds of onlookers watched with excitement – and some with fear. During the stroll, Scrappy showed off its skills by sitting and stopping when commanded, along with maneuvering around crowds and objects in its path. The robot recently went on sale to the public for $75,000 and is typically used by companies, but it seems the mechanical canine may soon become a household pet. Boston Dynamics' robot dog, Spot, has been seen in hospitals, at crime scenes and space rocket testing facilities, but the latest sighting occurred as it strolled down a Florida beach while attached to a leash Scrappy has its own YouTube channel, which started just last month, where its owner shares videos of their adventures.

Residents in the Bronx, New York stopped dead in their tracks as a four-legged robotic dog trotted down East 227th Street Tuesday. The machine, called Digidog, was accompanying human officers responding to a home invasion and barricade situation. Digidog joined the New York Police Department last year, which changed the machine's yellow color to blue and black and gave it a new name - it was initially named'Spot' by its creators Boston Dynamics. The robotic dog, according to reports, was sent inside a building in the Bronx to climb stairs and investigate an area for a hostage situation – but no one was found. The videographer, Daniel Valls of FreedomNews.tv, said the dog responded to a home invasion and barricaded situation on East 227th Street near White Plains Road in Wakefield. Digidog was designed for emergency situations that would otherwise be too dangerous for human officers.