Photos: Robots as toys, tools and teachers

The Warrior, another prototype from iRobot's military line, was developed in conjunction with the U.S. government's Technical Support Working Group antiterrorist unit. Similar to a PackBot in that it can be modified with plug-and-play components such as functioning weapons or chemical sensor devices, the Warrior is a bit more robust.

It's capable of traversing a 30-inch gap, hopping the equivalent of a 15-inch curb, and climbing a 60-degree slope or 45-degree stairs. It also has a 42-inch turning radius and is powered by a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Average battery life is four to six hours if the robot completes all of the functions mentioned above.