Been waiting for them to finally open a forum like this for a long time.
The reason I first got into RC again a few years ago was robotics. Since then I've built the MARM (Mobile ARM) robot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZOL-...228B36&index=0
I've also built a companion robot so it can be operated remotely without LOS. The companion is a simple setup with two cameras and a high-power ~1/2 watt wireless ethernet bridge to transmit live images from both it's cameras to a local computer. The ethernet bridge can outrange the RC controls.
I've built pleanty of other robots / robotics over the years, but the MARM is probably the most 'useful' or notable thing I have built. I built two robots for paintball (one had a semi-auto pistol with 10 shots, the other had a powerful fan powered by an E-flite power-60 outrunner motor.)
I remember the hobby shop where I first got some of my RC stuff at was doing a side deal with some company who was a military contractor. The military has developed a ground recon/combat robot known as SWORDS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWORDS
but like everything else developed by the military, they are prohibitively expensive.
They spoke of buying E-maxxes, stripping them down, and then adding things like robotics arms, cameras, etc. Then using them for purposes like disarming (or just detonating) things like roadside bombs and IEDs. I don't know how far it went but it sounds like a good idea.
It seems like robots are part of the popular culture now, for instance this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFJcq...E89B06&index=7
who was an attraction at a local fair I was at several months ago. I have no idea who he was but it was a big hit with the kids.