'Heart Robot' emotes just like a human child

A human-like robot that mimics human emotion was revealed this week at the 'Emotibot' event at London's Science Museum. The robot is actually closer to a puppet-robot hybrid, with a mechanical face and cloth arms and legs.

Heart Robot is unique because it exhibits the same "physiological" responses to its treatment as a human child. Its heart beats and it breathes like a human, its belly expanding and contracting with each breath. When it is coddled, it relaxes its limbs, closes its eyes, and becomes mellow, but when agitated or harassed, it becomes tense, clenching its fists as its heart beat increases.

According to Holly Cave, an event organizer, the response to the Heart Robot was particularly intriguing. "Different children react to him very differently. They either want to hug and cuddle him, and look after him like a doll or baby, or they just want to scare him."