German industrial robot pioneer KUKA Roboter is the creator of the first licensed passenger-carrying robot: robocoaster.

As the name suggests, this is part rollercoaster and part robot and uses a kinematic system with six rotational axes to offer a thrilling experience.

Passengers have no idea what's coming next as rides can vary from a gentle swinging action to hanging upside down and rocketing to the skies.

The robocoaster has been put to imaginative use at French theme park, Futuroscope, where it's used as part of the Dances with Robots experience. Ten robots, standing seven metres (23ft) high and moving along six axes with acceleration to 3G, whizz riders around in a specially choreographed dance.

Another application of the robocoaster is RoboSim, which made its debut at French ski resort Les2Alpes in 2008. This two-seater capsule fastened to a robot arm has six degrees of freedom and uses a 20in LCD flat-screen monitor and wind effects to simulate skiing, as well as what it would be like to be caught in an avalanche.