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This mutant robot was featured at the 2014 Beijing International Emergency Rescue Expo and was described by Chinese media as ‘eye-catching’. It certainly is that, but we wouldn’t say it is exactly pleasing to look at. As you can see, the robot looks like a bizarre combination between a mutated four-legged spider and the dried squid I am having with my end-of-summer beer.

The Chinese news outlet claims that this “mountain four-legged moving robot” is built to traverse rocky terrains. It is also capable of surveillance and–somewhat scarily, though as it’s a military robot perhaps expected–shooting. It is apparently also useful in situations where roads have been destroyed, such as at disaster scenes.

Despite the sturdy-looking exterior of the robot, however, Japanese netizens have expressed their doubts about the model, commenting: “This looks an awful lot like what our country has developed, doesn’t it? Or maybe China got to it first?” and, rather snidely, “Let’s hope it doesn’t explode.”

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According to Chinese media, the robot weighs 130 kg (286 lbs) and can carry up to 50 kg (110 lbs). It can also climb slopes of up to 30 degrees.

What we found curious about the robot was that its maximum speed is 6km/h (3mph) on flat surfaces and it can only run for two hours at a time before needing to refuel. That basically means that it moves a little slower than I can walk (or a lot slower if I’m walking to a sale at the mall), yet needs to be refueled every 12km. But if this robot is supposed go into mountainous terrains where humans cannot traverse, who is going to be around to top up its fuel tank?

Just for reference DARPA’s WildCat military robot can reach a speed of nearly 50 mph over rough terrains. I think we have a clear winner here.

Source/images: China.com, JIN115