The fairest robot of them all

A fan hugs an R2-D2 robot character at the Star Wars celebration convention in Anaheim, California. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A look at six real robots that aspire to be as cool as R2D2, Wall-E and Baymax

Which is your favorite robot?

R2D2 or C-3PO from the Star Wars movies? Wall-E? Terminator? David or the Teddy Bear in Artificial Intelligence? Optimus Prime in Transformer movies, Baymax in Big Hero 6?

In real life, however, robotic science and technology has not reached that level. But that's not to say that engineers around the world haven't built some very awesome robots.

1. Asimo by Honda

Asimo looks like a modest, lovely child. It is 130 centimeters in height. Able to recognize faces and languages and supported by strong artificial intelligence system, Asimo can communicate with people smoothly. It can make decisions on its own. For example, after asking people what to drink, it will fetch the drinks automatically. If there is a person in its path, it will give way to people.

It can play soccer, walk, run and jump on one foot.

The sensors on its fingers allow it to gauge the hardness of different objects the hands touch so that it can use different levels of strength to hold objects, either to open a tightly sealed water bottle or hold a paper cup of liquid.

2. Curiosity Mars rover by NASA

Curiosity seems lonely on Mars. After landing on the surface of the planet, it started itself automatically, turning its head 360 degrees to get a full view of the surroundings, sending the information to the satellite and back to Earth.

When it sighted something unusual, Curiosity will locate the object and travel to the location. In NASA's video, Curiosity discovers a bare rock in the desert. It approached the rock and drilled into it to get a sample, and then it analyzed the sample and collected the data that was then sent to Earth.

3. Wildcat and Big Dog by Boston Dynamics

Wildcat is amazing. It looks like a creepy headless steel cat skeleton. It can stand up from a prone position and gallop like a real cat. It can make turns while running.

The counterpart of Wildcat is Big Dog. It can adapt its walk in the wild, for example if it found itself in rocky terrain. Big Dogs can follow a leader on a mission.

4. Kuratus by Suidobashi Heavy Industry

Kuratus is a 13-foot tall robot that can be ridden. It is similar to those big steel robots in Pacific Rim. You can control the robot in the cockpit in its chest. You can also control it using an iPhone.

Kuratus is made for fun. It can use a water bottle as its weapon, and its BB guns will be "fired" when the commander in the cockpit smiles.

5. Termite Robots by Harvard University

Termite Robots could replace human beings doing tough tedious building work. The way they work is inspired by termites. A swarm of centimeter-long termites can build a nest more than 40-feet tall. The long-term vision is that, in dangerous environments that are unsuitable for humans to work in, such as Mars, termite robots can work instead of humans, for example, when scientists want to build a space station.

6. Atlas by Boston Dynamics

Atlas is perhaps the most awesomely creepy humanoid rescue robot. It can walk upright on two legs, adapting its walks to different environments. The free upper limbs can lift and carry things.

In an extremely tough environment, Atlas can coordinate its feet and hands to climb, and make its way through congested spaces. Its agile hands can also use tools designed for humans.