Robotics
![A woman building a small humanoid robot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HzRPQV7CKd2f8uJtwutZZW-320-80.jpg)
Robots are machines built to perform complex tasks that may be too difficult, unsafe or just too tedious for humans.
Live Science takes you through the latest developments in robotics, from the strangest robots to biohybrids, and questions whether we're really ready for intelligent robots. Whatever your interest in automatons, androids and artificial intelligence, our expert team of writers and editors are here to provide you with the latest robotics news, features and articles.
Latest about Robotics
![Study co-author Agnieszka Wykowska pictured with the deceptively "self-aware" robot iCub.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/76ecArVaPhWxreX3fLMUgi-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Human-like robot tricks people into thinking it has a mind of its own
By Harry Baker last updated
In a new study, participants became convinced that a human-like robot had achieved self-awareness. But in reality, it was being controlled by researchers.
![Robot next to a needle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rXM7Ex95c9bQGWAA6HK2y6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
This sideways-scooting robot crab is so tiny it fits through the eye of a needle
By Harry Baker published
Engineers have designed a mini robot crab that can be made to walk sideways using lasers. The tiny eight-legged critter is the world's smallest remote-controlled robot.
![As Pac-man-shaped Xenobot “parents” move around their environment, they collect loose stem cells in their “mouths” that, over time, aggregate to create “offspring” Xenobots that develop to look just like their creators.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-320-80.gif 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-450-80.gif 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-500-80.gif 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-650-80.gif 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-840-80.gif 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-970-80.gif 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-1024-80.gif 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SRzQs3LZ5b6ojeQUumm74o-1200-80.gif 1200w)
Pac-Man-shaped blobs become world's first self-replicating biological robots
By Stephanie Pappas published
Biological robots made from frog cells can self-replicate like no other organism, by moving around raw materials to build more of themselves.
![A photo of Kevin Warwick using his cyborg implant to control a robot hand over the internet.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B6PYskrHbRNX4BD3VpcfxL-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Who was the first cyborg?
By Patrick Pester published
Fictional cyborgs have appeared in science fiction since the 1920s, but who was the first human to fuse with technology and become a real-life cyborg?
![The robot artist "Ai-Da" stands in front of one of her self-portraits during the opening of her new exhibition at the Design Museum in London on May 18.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BWaS5TwUQjXyzM3UTETud6-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Human-like robot creates creepy self-portraits
By Harry Baker published
A robotic artist powered by AI algorithms has created realistic self-portraits that question the limits of artificial intelligence and what it means to be human.
![Who's a good boy?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MB5nnnMraQPTs9HqgDowZR-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Meet Au-Spot, the AI robot dog that's training to explore caves on Mars
By Mindy Weisberger published
Robotic "Mars Dogs" could use artificial intelligence and sensors to investigate the Martian surface and map hidden lava tunnels.
![See spot stand.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-320-80.png 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-450-80.png 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-500-80.png 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-650-80.png 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-840-80.png 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-970-80.png 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-1024-80.png 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/beQr69BAjcVVp2AngwLqaM-1200-80.png 1200w)
New robot 'explorer' dog will only set you back 63 stimulus checks
By Brandon Specktor published
Boston Dynamics' robot dog 'Spot' is now for sale for a cool $74,500.
![Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center are developing soft robot actuators from 3D-printed flexible silicone molds to study how "soft robots" can be used for space exploration.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-320-80.gif 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-450-80.gif 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-500-80.gif 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-650-80.gif 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-840-80.gif 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-970-80.gif 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-1024-80.gif 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2hPHKggdFm3SSV4zLiE3bX-1200-80.gif 1200w)
NASA Is Developing 'Soft Robots' That Look Like Inflatable 'Aliens'
By Elizabeth Howell published
And they could be just the thing to explore worlds beyond Earth.
Live Science newsletter
Stay up to date on the latest science news by signing up for our Essentials newsletter.