SphereBot

This may not be fesible. While idle, you have a fairly smooth metal (or composite material) sphere about 2 feet in diameter. On the 'lower' half is a collection of 6 or 7 legs, each equiped with two or three tools each (retractable). On the upper half is a single gleeming 'eye'. If miniturization will allow, then the 'eye' will be able to see the visible, infared, and ultraviolet spectrums. Also at the very top (beneath the surface) is either a small satallite antena, or some unique mid-range communications unit.

The Power for this robot will be in the form of an Electromagnetic 'bottle' nuclear core, with an opening in the bottom to eject any excess material or super-heated gases (It has to fly somehow). The EM 'bottle' will be created with (what is currently sci-fi) some sort of "force-field". If that is not probable, I am open to suggestions.

The processors for these machines will operate under the 'Hive Mind' theory, where the more minds there are, the smarter the 'collective'. This is why the communications array is VERY important and needs to be quite fast, preferably a bit faster than the individual processors. In order for esured loyalty, the robots must be programmed with a 'No-Kill' fail-safe. That too is open to suggestion.

As for weapons, well, I was hoping that somehow a small laser coud be installed within the confines of the eye. Another possible weapon could be a 'powerful' (as stong as possible) taser built into the legs, or into smaller, and longer, 'arms'. As a final resort, there could be a small, thermo-nuclear, self destruct (remove all the safeties from the power unit).