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Robots in pictures: London Science Museum
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The realistic and squirming baby at the start of the exhibition.
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And the bundle of actuators that control it.
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The Silver Swan was built in 1773 and was exhibited to the public for the princely sum of 5 shillings.
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The swan uses thousands of moving parts to dip its neck to the water (made from rotating glass rods) and pick up the middle of these seven silver fish.
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A replica figure of Maria from Fritz Lang's sci-fi classic, Metropolis.
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In the film, Maria takes on the appearance of a human woman, and is used to rouse the workers of the city into rebellion.
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Cygan the robot is second from the left, while the bot on the far right is Eric — originally built in 1928 and with "RUR" emblazoned on its chest (the title of a Czech play from 1920 that coined the term "robot").
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"Alas, poor Yorick."
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This bot was designed to be a receptionist and recognizes when you talk to it, looking in your direction.
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A pair of bipedal robots. Making robots that walk like humans has its advantages, but it's still proving tricky — wheels are still cheaper and offer more stability.
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A closer look at some of the air pressure pumps used in an experimental bipedal robot.
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Nexi the robot can move around, pick up objects, and communicate basic emotions through its oversized face.
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It does rather stare, though.
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More lifelike bots like this, the Kodomoroid from Japan, tend to be limited in functionality. This particular bot can move its arms and read the news.
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The telepresence bot telenoid is meant to be held by the user to increase their empathy toward it.
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Pepper makes a friend.
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Robots like Baxter are being used in factories today alongside humans. It can learn tasks and adapt to its immediate environment.
