5: Robot facts

How do robots move?

Robots contain electronic circuits. The movements can be controlled by signals from a computer or from software installed into the robot.

Can robots feel?

Robots cannot feel emotions. However there is work going on at the moment which is developing robots that can 'read' expressions on a human's face and respond according to whether they 'think' the human is happy or sad.

Will robots be able to think for themselves?

Many science fiction films show robots being able to think for themselves. At the moment, this is not reality. Robots can assess a lot of information and make decisions based on what has been programmed into them. They can even learn a bit - if they make a mistake, they can learn not to repeat it.

What is an Android?

An android is a robot which is made to resemble a human both in the way it looks and the way it behaves. Examples are Honda's Asimo, the Star Wars droids or perhaps more famously, Data from Star Trek.

Who makes robots?

70 - 80% of the industrial robots in the world are made in Japan in the Osaka region.