The BBC is reporting that the US military is developing a device called the Battlefield Extraction Assist Robot (BEAR), which will carry injured soldiers to safety…and has the head of a teddy bear.

The 6ft tall Bear can cross bumpy ground without toppling thanks to a combination of gyroscopes and computer controlled motors to maintain balance.

It is also narrow enough to squeeze through doorways, but can lift 135kg with its hydraulic arms in a single smooth movement, to avoid causing pain to wounded soldiers.

While the existing prototype slides its arms under its burden like a forklift, future versions will be fitted with manoeuvrable hands to gently scoop up casualties.

The Bear is controlled remotely and has cameras and microphones through which an operator sees and hears.

It can even tackle stairs while carrying a human-sized dummy.

Uh, this might be just me, but I don’t know if a lifeless teddy bear head is going to soothe the pain and agony of, you know, being shot or blown up or being under heavy fire and stress or whatever. Seriously, maybe this is a prank? It seems like something out of a Kubrick movie.

Photos after the jump.

Spread the word!