Robot innovations dance, lift and wash hair

If films and science fiction tell us anything, it's that robots have the potential to take over the world and kill us all. Until they make that human race-ending decision, we can look to robots for both practical uses — from healthcare to heavy lifting — and entertainment.

While the feeling of having one's hair washed is generally a luxurious sensation, it could be somewhat unsettling when this Panasonic robot uses 16 mechatronic fingers for the shampooing. The machine employs a moving arm to create a 3D scan of your head to ensure a gentle hair-washing experience.