Mecha

Mecha, also known as meka or mechs, are walking vehicle controlled by a pilot, often appearing in science fiction or other genres involving a fantastic or futuristic element. Mecha are generally, though not necessarily, bipedal. In most fiction in which they appear, mecha are war machines: essentially armored fighting vehicle with legs instead of tread or wheel (there are some exceptions). Some stories, such as the manga Patlabor and American miniatures game Battletech, also encompass mecha... full article at wikipedia