Awesome Robots

The best possible use for an old VW Beetle, Tom Rhoads has created a full-sized version of Transformers’ Bumblebee in his front yard; it stands 18 feet tall and weighs 1,200 lbs.

The technology isn’t perfect, but there’s just something awesome about wearing an augmented reality-generated Optimus Prime helmet; it uses your eyes as a point of reference.

You probably don’t want to be within a few hundred miles of zombie outbreaks with this The Machine tee, but we’re digging it’s cerebral take of the classic Terminator poster.

Whether you support the Earth Federation or the Principality of Zeon, Zippo’s got you covered; they’re releasing two special edition lighters in celebration of Gundam’s 30th anniversary.

No, it’s not making off with your laptop–ReBo:Do Three is a semi-autonomous robot which accepts any Windows, Linux or Mac netbook to guide its array of IR navigation sensors.

It resembles Disney’s Cars, but ZMP Inc’s RoboCar is designed (and priced) for academic use; it’s a Linux-powered robotics platform with stereo CCD cameras and image recognition.

J!NX’s Robots are Metal t-shirt is a double entendre that goes out to all our laser sword wielding, energon consuming, Jedi-assisting buddies; just don’t go all The Matrix on us, okay?

A completely custom piece, this Optimus Prime Ring is for die-hard Autobots only; made with 14 karat gold, it’s blingtastic enough to take down Decepticons with its brightness alone.

Developed as a mobile crane, Robotopusu (“Robotops”) looks ready to rend humans limb from limb with its two giant claw arms and four legs; each claw and grasp up to 220lbs.

In a world dominated by robot movies, there was Transforminators: this clever parody by IGN mixes Transformers and Terminator, with a brilliant (but fake) Christian Bale voiceover.

Available today at Tee Fury, this Terminated t-shirt merges two of sci-fi’s greatest killer cyborgs into one twisted, time-traveling mess: “Luke, I am your father, but I killed him, too.”

Even the most lovable of droids have a dark side: IM King Clothing takes their horned robot logo and applies it to Oscar D2, R2D2’s evil brother/alter-ego; available in black or blue.

The Rotundus GroundBot may be a security robot, but its ability to go offroad in snow, mud, sand and even water ensures that future human rebels will have nowhere to hide.

This Bumblebee Edition Chevy Camaro won’t turn into your personal robot, but sports black racing stripes, rally yellow paint and Transformers badging on the wheels and inside.

These USB Transformers take Cybertron to your cubicle and include flash drives and mouses; our favorite is Jazz, who transforms into a laptop-shaped USB hub. Thanks, Perry!

It’s amazing what a little voice work, a sweet soundtrack and anti-aliasing can do, but this launch trailer for Terminator: Salvation has our hopes way up for the game; it’s out today.

Move over, MiFi: iRobot’s Ember is a paperback-sized robot that sets up ad-hoc hotspots in warzones, can navigate around obstacles and is able to right itself when flipped over.

Made with Lego Mindstorms NXT and hung from three pulleys, Nils Volker’s Drawing Robot is more artistic than technical: it tracks visitor’s eye movements to create dot paintings.

Terminator: Salvation’s Marcus Wright toes the line between hero and villain with this 1:6 figure; it sports two heads (one battle damaged), two outfits, three hands, and weapons.

Get a peek at Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (game) roster above with both in-game and standalone renders; we’re digging camo-jet Breakaway and the hulking Long Haul.

The artists at Transmutant are neighbors we’d love to have, even with their pink flying Land Rovers and giant, four-legged robots; Don’t Panic has a quirky interview with the troupe here.

Available only in May, this Jimiyo t-shirt is overflowing with awesome: Darth Vader, Terminator, Freddie Krueger and the Predator serve as the ultimate horsemen of the apocalypse.

Curiosity killed the cat, or in this case, the robot: Luke Randall’s Reach is about a cute, waddling robot (WALL-E, anyone?) and its ill-advised battles with its tragically short power cord.