This is iCub, the most impressive humanoid robot of the feature. iCub is so incredibly human-like, it becomes difficult to not refer to it as a 'he'. Designed by multiple universities and built by the Italian Institute of Technology, iCub is a similar size to a normal two year old child and even learns how to carry out tasks in the same way. What stands out about iCub, is it's incredible ability to identify people and objects, distinguishing between the two and interacting accordingly. It is also able to solve complex 3D mazes totally autonomously. It can touch, grasp and lift items on demand and is even capable of firing a bow, learning to hit the centre of the target with arrows. This entry demonstrates that the more human a robot looks and acts, the more our fascination grows. iCub can express many emotions with the help of LED lights built into it's face and somehow manages to ooze character, ensuring that he (it!) makes an ideal companion and helper in the not-too-distant future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzHRLm2z47I
KJ Lewis is 35 years old, was able to rear three small children into three slightly bigger children and has a relatively untested and unfounded passion for writing.
You can find him at Twitter: @onefistintheair or Facebook: KJ Lewis
