Festo's BionicKangaroo from 2014. Festo's bionic robots are the equivalent of concept cars, testbeds for innovation and new ideas that could one day find their way into production vehicles.

German electrical automation company Festo has good form for pushing the envelope in robot development, previously showing off bio-inspired bot versions of ants, a kangaroo, flying penguins and more.

German robotics company Festo’s new robo-spider looks menacing enough when it’s just sitting there. But let it engage its special ability – curling up into a ball and rolling around – and it will look ...